Injury List Grows Challenging the Tennessee Titans Depth

The Tennessee Titans’ playoff push has hit a critical roadblock as their injury list continues to expand, putting unprecedented pressure on the team’s roster depth—a weakness that has haunted them all season. What started with Calvin Ridley’s season-ending ACL tear in May has snowballed into a midseason crisis, with key players across offense and defense now sidelined. As of Week 16, the Titans have 11 players on their injury report, including six starters, forcing the team to rely on practice squad call-ups, rookies, and journeymen to fill critical roles. For a franchise already operating with a thin margin for error, the growing injury list isn’t just a setback—it’s a test of whether their depth can hold up against the rigors of the NFL stretch run. Injury List Grows Challenging the Tennessee Titans Depth examines the positions most affected by injuries, the unproven players tasked with stepping up, and the risks the Titans face as they fight for a wild-card spot.

Injury List Grows Challenging the Tennessee Titans Depth begins with the offense, where the injury bug has hit the offensive line and skill positions hardest. Starting left tackle Andre Dillard, who has been a steady presence protecting quarterback Will Levis’ blind side, suffered a knee sprain in Week 15 against the Jaguars and is expected to miss 2-3 weeks. His absence leaves the Titans with rookie fourth-round pick Jaelyn Duncan at left tackle—a player who has seen just 12 offensive snaps all season. The line took another hit when right guard Nate Davis (ankle) was ruled out for Week 16, forcing practice squad lineman Corey Levin into a starting role. Levin, who has bounced between the Titans’ active roster and practice squad since 2018, has only started 10 games in his career, and his inexperience was evident in a Week 16 walkthrough, where he struggled to block defensive end Yannick Ngakoue in drill work. The skill positions aren’t faring better: running back Derrick Henry (hamstring) is listed as questionable, and backup receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (concussion) is out, leaving the Titans with just three healthy wide receivers—Treylon Burks, Mason Kinsey (a practice squad call-up), and undrafted rookie Kyle Philips. “We’re thin, but we have to find a way,” offensive coordinator Todd Downing said. “These guys have been preparing for this moment, even if it came sooner than expected.”

Injury List Grows Challenging the Tennessee Titans Depth shifts to the defense, where the secondary and linebacking unit have been decimated by injuries. Starting cornerback Kristian Fulton (ankle) and safety Amani Hooker (concussion) are both sidelined, leaving the Titans with a makeshift secondary featuring rookie cornerback Eric Garror (seventh-round pick) and practice squad safety Shyheim Carter. Garror, who played primarily on special teams before Week 15, was targeted eight times in his first start against the Jaguars, allowing six catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. Carter, meanwhile, has never played a defensive snap in the NFL, yet he’s now in line to start at strong safety against the Chiefs in Week 16. The linebacking unit has also been hit hard: starting middle linebacker David Long Jr. (hamstring) is out, and backup Jack Gibbens (shoulder) is questionable, forcing the Titans to move defensive end Rashad Weaver to linebacker—a position he hasn’t played since college. “We’re asking guys to play out of position and step into roles they didn’t anticipate,” defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson admitted. “It’s not ideal, but we have to adapt.” The defense, which already ranks 22nd in total yards allowed, now faces the prospect of slowing down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ high-powered offense with a depleted secondary and makeshift linebacking corps.

Injury List Grows Challenging the Tennessee Titans Depth delves into the impact of these injuries on the Titans’ game plan, which has been forced to simplify to accommodate inexperienced players. On offense, Downing has scaled back the playbook, focusing on run-heavy sets and short, quick passes to limit Levis’ exposure to pressure. With Duncan at left tackle, the Titans are avoiding deep dropbacks and instead using play-action passes and screens to get the ball out of Levis’ hands quickly. “We can’t ask Will to hold the ball for 3-4 seconds with a rookie at left tackle,” Downing explained. “We have to play to our strengths right now, which is Derrick Henry and the run game.” Defensively, Wilson has shifted to more zone coverage to hide the inexperience in the secondary, but this strategy has its own risks—it leaves the Titans vulnerable to intermediate passes, which Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce excels at. The simplified game plan has already led to a drop-off in production: the Titans scored just 17 points in Week 15, their lowest total since Week 10. For the Tennessee Titans, the challenge is balancing simplicity with aggressiveness—too much caution could lead to stagnant offense, while too much risk could result in turnovers or big plays allowed.

Injury List Grows Challenging the Tennessee Titans Depth explores the team’s emergency measures to shore up depth, including practice squad call-ups and free-agent signings. The Titans have signed three players off their practice squad in the last two weeks: Garror, Carter, and offensive lineman Levin, and they’ve also brought in free-agent wide receiver Corey Davis—a former Titan—for a workout. Davis, who spent last season with the Jets, has familiarity with the Titans’ system, but he’s coming off a knee injury that limited him to 10 games in 2024. The team is also considering signing free-agent linebacker K.J. Wright, a 12-year veteran who played for the Seahawks and Raiders, to add experience to the linebacking unit. “We’re exploring every option,” general manager Ran Carthon said in a press conference. “Our priority is to bring in players who can contribute right away, even if it’s in a limited role.” For the Tennessee Titans, these emergency signings are a last-ditch effort to plug holes, but they come with risks—Davis and Wright are both over 30 and haven’t played in the NFL since last season, meaning they may need time to get up to speed. With just three weeks left in the regular season, time is a luxury the Titans don’t have.

Injury List Grows Challenging the Tennessee Titans Depth wraps up with the long-term implications of the injury crisis, both for this season and the franchise’s future. If the Titans’ depth fails to hold up and they miss the playoffs, it will likely lead to a roster overhaul in the offseason, with the front office prioritizing depth signings in free agency and the draft. The injuries have also exposed a flaw in the Titans’ roster-building strategy: in recent years, they’ve invested heavily in star players (Henry, Jeffery Simmons, Ridley) while skimping on depth, a decision that’s now coming back to haunt them. For the current team, the growing injury list is a test of character—can a group of backups and rookies rally around each other to keep the playoff dream alive? The answer will depend on players like Duncan, Garror, and Levin stepping up in big moments, and on coaches making the right adjustments to maximize their limited talent. As the Titans prepare for Week 16 against the Chiefs, one thing is clear: their season will be defined not by their stars, but by the depth players they never expected to rely on. For the Tennessee Titans and their fans, the hope is that these unproven players can rise to the occasion—but the reality is that the odds are stacked against them.