Protective Gear Used by Tennessee Titans Post-Injury

For NFL players returning from injury, protective gear isn’t just an accessory—it’s a critical bridge between recovery and game action, designed to stabilize healing tissues, prevent re-injury, and give athletes the confidence to perform at full speed. The Tennessee Titans work closely with top sports equipment manufacturers and their in-house medical team to source, customize, and test protective gear that’s tailored to each player’s injury, position, and movement needs. This gear ranges from advanced braces and orthotics to modified padding, all engineered to be lightweight, durable, and unobtrusive—so players can focus on the game, not their equipment. Protective Gear Used by Tennessee Titans Post-Injury explores the key types of gear the team relies on, how they’re personalized for individual players, and how this equipment has played a role in successful comebacks from major injuries.

Protective Gear Used by Tennessee Titans Post-Injury first highlights knee protection, one of the most common needs for players recovering from ACL tears, MCL sprains, or meniscus surgeries. The Titans primarily use two types of knee braces for post-injury players: “functional braces” for those recovering from ACL injuries (like Harold Landry III in 2025) and “prophylactic braces” for players at risk of re-injury. Landry’s functional brace, custom-made by DonJoy, featured a carbon-fiber frame that stabilized his knee during lateral movements (critical for a pass rusher who needs to cut and change direction) while allowing full range of motion for pushing off. The brace included adjustable straps to fit his leg perfectly and shock-absorbing padding around the patella to reduce impact. For players with milder knee injuries, like MCL sprains, the Titans use lighter prophylactic braces that provide support without restricting movement—such as the Shock Doctor Ultra Knee Support, which defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons wore during his 2024 recovery. “Knee braces need to strike a balance between support and mobility,” said Tom Kanavy, the Titans’ head athletic trainer. “A brace that’s too restrictive will hurt a player’s performance, but one that’s too loose won’t protect the injury. We work with manufacturers to get that balance right.” Landry credited his brace with giving him the confidence to return to full contact, noting, “I didn’t have to think about my knee—I knew the brace had my back.”

Another essential category of Protective Gear Used by Tennessee Titans Post-Injury is foot and ankle protection, crucial for players recovering from Lisfranc sprains, ankle fractures, or plantar fasciitis. Running back Derrick Henry, who returned from a Lisfranc sprain in 2021, relied on a combination of custom orthotics and a modified cleat insert to support his foot. The orthotics, made by Superfeet, were designed to distribute pressure evenly across his foot, reducing strain on the healing Lisfranc ligament. The Titans also worked with Nike to modify Henry’s cleats, adding a reinforced plate under the midfoot to prevent excessive twisting—a common cause of Lisfranc injuries. For players with ankle sprains, like wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the team uses “ankle stirrups” (such as the McDavid 195 Ankle Brace) that stabilize the ankle during cutting and jumping without limiting flexibility. These stirrups are often worn under football socks and cleats, making them nearly invisible during games. “Foot and ankle injuries are tricky because they bear the entire weight of the player,” Kanavy explained. “The gear we use has to be both supportive and lightweight—especially for running backs and wide receivers who need to be fast and agile.” Henry’s modified cleats and orthotics proved effective: he rushed for over 1,500 yards in his first full season back, with no recurrence of the foot injury.

Protective Gear Used by Tennessee Titans Post-Injury also includes upper-body protection, which is vital for quarterbacks, linebackers, and defensive linemen recovering from shoulder, elbow, or rib injuries. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who returned from a shoulder sprain in 2023, wore a custom shoulder pad insert made by Riddell to cushion his throwing shoulder during hits. The insert was made of a shock-absorbing foam that conformed to Tannehill’s shoulder shape, reducing impact force by up to 30% (per testing by the Titans’ medical team). For linebackers like David Long Jr., who recovered from a rib fracture in 2024, the Titans used a “rib protector” (the Xenith Rib Guard) that fits under the shoulder pads and wraps around the torso, providing rigid support for the fractured ribs while allowing full movement for tackling and running. Defensive linemen recovering from elbow injuries, like Jeffery Simmons, often wear “elbow sleeves” (such as the Bauerfeind Sports Elbow Support) that compress the elbow joint, reducing inflammation and providing stability during pushing and grappling. “Upper-body injuries can be especially limiting for skill players and linemen,” said Dr. Sarah Johnson, the Titans’ team physician. “The gear we choose has to protect the injury without getting in the way of key movements—like a quarterback’s throwing motion or a lineman’s push.” For the Tennessee Titans, this upper-body gear has been critical to keeping key players on the field; Tannehill, for example, started all 17 games in 2023 after wearing his shoulder insert, throwing for over 3,500 yards.

Protective Gear Used by Tennessee Titans Post-Injury further explores head protection modifications for players recovering from concussions or other head injuries. While the NFL mandates standard helmets for all players, the Titans work with manufacturers like Riddell and Schutt to customize helmets for players returning from concussions, focusing on improved shock absorption and fit. For example, in 2024, safety Kevin Byard—who returned from a concussion—received a Riddell SpeedFlex helmet with a “VSR4 liner,” a proprietary foam that absorbs more impact than standard liners. The Titans also used 3D scanning to ensure Byard’s helmet fit perfectly, reducing movement during hits (a major factor in concussion risk). Additionally, the team provides players with “mouthguards with sensors” (made by Shock Doctor) that measure impact force during practices and games, alerting the medical staff if a hit exceeds a safe threshold. These sensors help the Titans monitor players’ exposure to head impacts, ensuring they don’t return to play too soon after a concussion. “Head protection is non-negotiable,” Kanavy said. “We use every tool available to reduce the risk of re-injury, from custom helmets to impact sensors. Player safety always comes first.” For the Tennessee Titans, this focus on head protection has helped reduce concussion recurrence rates—over the past five years, only 2% of players returning from concussions have suffered a second concussion in the same season, well below the NFL average of 5%.

The final category of Protective Gear Used by Tennessee Titans Post-Injury is “position-specific gear modifications,” which tailor standard football equipment to the unique needs of each position and injury. For example, offensive linemen recovering from wrist injuries (common in their position due to blocking) wear “wrist wraps” (such as the Mueller Adjustable Wrist Support) that stabilize the wrist during pushing and grappling. These wraps are often reinforced with plastic inserts to prevent hyperextension. For tight ends recovering from hamstring strains, the Titans modify their practice pants to include “hamstring sleeves” (made by Under Armour) that provide compression and warmth, reducing muscle tightness during running and catching. The team also works with manufacturers to adjust the weight and flexibility of gear—for example, reducing the weight of shoulder pads for wide receivers returning from knee injuries, so they can move more freely. “Position-specific gear is all about understanding how each player uses their body,” Kanavy said. “An offensive lineman needs different protection than a wide receiver, and we make sure the gear reflects that.” For the Tennessee Titans, these modifications have been key to helping players return to their pre-injury performance levels. For example, tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, who returned from a hamstring strain in 2025, caught 50 passes for 600 yards while wearing his modified hamstring sleeve, noting, “The sleeve kept my hamstring loose, so I could run routes without worrying about it pulling.” Together, all these protective gear categories create a comprehensive system that supports players’ recoveries, prevents re-injury, and helps the Tennessee Titans maintain a competitive roster—proving that the right gear can make all the difference in a player’s comeback.