BEREA, Ohio — Veteran safety Donte Whitner, the leader of the defense in his first year with the Cleveland Browns, said cornerback Joe Haden should expect to be tested by the Tennessee Titans on Sunday in Nashville after Haden was beaten on critical plays in each of the first three games.

Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers beat Haden for a 41-yard touchdown pass in the opener. A week later, in a huge size mismatch, New Orleans Saints 6-foot-7 tight end Jimmy Graham out-jumped 5-foot-10 Haden on a touchdown pass from the 2-yard line.

The Browns went into their bye last weekend 1-2 in part because Haden gave up a 32-yard pass to Steve Smith Sr. to set up Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker with the game-winning field goal.

“As a defensive back in the National Football League, not only at outside corner, you have to have a short memory because guess what?” Whitner said. “When we go out there against Tennessee, you better believe that they have a speedy guy out there that’s going to run a fade or a double move on him to keep that streak going.

“I tell (rookie cornerback) Justin Gilbert the same thing all the time, ‘Until you fix these things, they’re going to continue to come back and haunt you.’ In the National Football League, nobody’s going to have any pity on you.”

Haden, in his fifth season, made the Pro Bowl for the first time after the 2013 season. He signed a five-year, $68 million contract extension in May and said he has to play like an elite cornerback to live up to the new contract.

“The great ones are going to make big plays when it’s needed, and I think that’s one area where Joe will look to improve,” Browns coach Mike Pettine said.

The effort is there, but so far the results haven’t been. Whitner said he isn’t worried and the coaches are saying the same thing, but the mistakes are eating Haden alive.

“I know I haven’t been playing up to my ability,” Haden said. “I’m down. I know I can play better. I’m going to come in, work every day, and I’m not changing my attitude. I’m just going to keep trying to push forward. It’s the beginning of the season. I’m not panicking. I know my ability, I trust in my ability and I know I’ll be able to start making plays.”

The cold reality is what is happening to Haden is a carryover of how 2013 ended.

Haden was beaten four times for touchdowns late last year. Brown beat him on a hitch and go – coincidentally for 41 yards – and a touchdown down the left sideline to break a 3-3 tie in a game the Steelers went on to win, 27-11, on Nov. 24.

On Dec. 1, Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts III beat Haden for the game-winning touchdown from the 20 when the Browns were leading, 28-25. Haden fell for an inside move because he thought Shorts was trying to set up the tying field goal.

Haden gave up a two-yard touchdown pass to the New England Patriots’ Julien Edelman with 1:01 to play a week later and then the Chicago Bears’ Brandon Marshall got him on a five-yard touchdown pass.

Haden did not play in the season finale because of a hip injury. He has given up six touchdown passes in the last eight games he played.

SERIES HISTORY: 62nd regular season meeting. Browns lead series, 33-28. The Browns and Oilers had some epic battles prior to the Browns being reborn as an expansion franchise in 1999 and the Oilers moving to Tennessee in 1997. On Dec. 18, 1988, the Browns won, 28-23, in Houston to make the playoffs as a host wild-card team. Six days later the Oilers won the wild-card game in Cleveland, 24-23.

Ben Tate is practicing for the first time since injuring his right knee in the first half of the season opener in Pittsburgh. If there are no setbacks he will start against the Titans, which means diminished carries for rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell.

“When you have depth, that’s a good problem,” coach Mike Pettine said. “It’s a long season. We’re looking forward to getting him back. He was playing at a high level when he got hurt.”

Crowell worked with the first team in the final practice before the bye, which could indicate West will be the odd man out. West leads all rookie running backs with 204 rushing yards.

–WR Marlon Moore (illness) did not practice Wednesday.

–CB Buster Skrine was limited with a thumb injury.

–LT Joe Thomas was rested and will return to full practice Thursday.

GAME PLAN: The Browns could go downfield early to set a tone in their first game back from their bye. The Titans haven’t scored a point in the first quarter, so the Browns would like to jump to an early lead by targeting tight end Jordan Cameron and wide receiver Miles Austin.

The Browns have not won on the road in more than a year. Their last road victory came Sept. 22 in Minnesota last year. They know they have to get out of that rut if they plan on playing meaningful games in late November and December.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Browns LB Karlos Dansby vs. Titans RB Shonn Green: Shoring up run defense was a major project during the bye. Opponents are averaging 5.2 yards per carry on the Browns. Green is averaging 4.7 yards on 33 carries. Dansby and the rest of the defenders have to stay in their gaps to take away cutback lanes.

Browns TE Jordan Cameron vs. Titans safety Bernard Pollard: Cameron has only three catches in two games. He missed the second game with a shoulder injury. The bye gave him a chance to rest and heal. Pollard is second on the Titans with 23 tackles.