Injury Management Key for the Tennessee Titans Season

For the Tennessee Titans, the 2024 season has become a masterclass in how injury management can define a team’s trajectory. What began as a promising campaign with playoff aspirations has been derailed by a wave of injuries to key players—from Calvin Ridley’s hamstring strain to Denico Autry’s ankle sprain—each testing the Titans’ ability to balance short-term competitiveness with long-term player health. In a division as tight as the AFC South, where every win matters, effective injury management isn’t just a “nice-to-have”; it’s the difference between clinging to playoff hope and falling into a rebuild. From adjusting practice loads to strategic use of the injured reserve list, every decision the Titans make around player health will shape their final standings. Injury Management Key for the Tennessee Titans Season explores these critical strategies, their impact on the roster, and why getting them right is essential for salvaging the season.

A foundational element of the Titans’ injury management success—or struggle—lies in proactive prevention, which has become a focal point after early-season soft-tissue injuries sidelined multiple starters. In the first eight weeks, the Titans lost three key players (Ridley, Autry, David Long Jr.) to hamstring or ankle strains—injuries often linked to overtraining or inadequate recovery. Since then, the team’s training staff has overhauled their approach: adding extra rest days for veterans like Derrick Henry, reducing full-pad practice time from three days a week to one, and integrating more dynamic stretching and mobility work into daily routines. The results have been noticeable: over the last four weeks, the Titans have placed just one player on injured reserve (a backup offensive lineman), compared to five in the first eight weeks. Head athletic trainer Tom Kanavy explained the shift: “We’re using data from GPS trackers and player feedback to tailor workloads—if a player’s fatigue levels spike, we adjust their reps immediately.” Injury Management Key for the Tennessee Titans Season emphasizes that this proactive approach isn’t just about avoiding injuries; it’s about keeping core players available for high-stakes games against divisional rivals like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.

Another critical aspect of injury management for the Titans is strategic use of the injured reserve (IR) list and practice squad elevations—tools that have helped them navigate depth shortages without sacrificing long-term roster flexibility. Early in the season, the Titans hesitated to place players on IR, instead listing them as “questionable” for weeks, which left the roster shorthanded and forced backups to play out of position. But after Ridley’s hamstring injury in Week 11, the team shifted tactics: placing him on short-term IR (which requires a minimum four-week absence) to free up a roster spot for practice squad wide receiver Colton Dowell, who caught two passes in his NFL debut against the Jaguars. Similarly, when Autry injured his ankle, the Titans elevated veteran defensive end Mario Addison from the practice squad, giving them a proven pass-rusher while Autry rehabbed. This flexibility has been crucial: the Titans have won two of their last four games, in large part because they’ve had viable replacements for injured starters. “The IR list isn’t a death sentence—it’s a way to give players time to heal while keeping the team competitive,” general manager Ran Carthon said. Injury Management Key for the Tennessee Titans Season notes that this strategic roster management has turned a potential crisis into an opportunity to evaluate young talent, which could benefit the team beyond 2024.

For the Tennessee Titans, individualized recovery plans have been a game-changer for getting key players back on the field faster—and healthier—than initially expected. No player exemplifies this better than cornerback Kristian Fulton, who suffered a knee contusion in Week 8 and was initially projected to miss four weeks. Instead, the Titans’ medical staff designed a custom recovery plan: daily physical therapy sessions focused on reducing swelling, low-impact cardio to maintain fitness, and targeted strength training for his quadriceps. Fulton returned in just two weeks, recording a pass breakup in his first game back against the Texans. Similarly, safety Kevin Byard, who sprained his shoulder in Week 11, avoided a trip to IR by following a modified practice schedule—participating in film study and walkthroughs but sitting out contact drills until his shoulder strength returned to 90%. Byard was back in the starting lineup by Week 13, intercepting a pass in the end zone to seal a win over the Jaguars. For the Tennessee Titans, these individualized plans highlight the importance of treating each injury—and each player—uniquely, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all timelines. Injury Management Key for the Tennessee Titans Season explores how this personalized approach has not only accelerated recoveries but also boosted player confidence, as athletes feel supported rather than rushed back into action.

The Tennessee Titans’ injury management has also extended to mental health support—a often-overlooked component that plays a critical role in players’ overall recovery and return to form. When Ridley was sidelined with his hamstring strain, the team connected him with a sports psychologist to help him manage the frustration of missing games—a challenge he’d faced earlier in his career. “Mental health is just as important as physical health,” Ridley said in a recent interview. “Having someone to talk to about staying focused during rehab kept me from getting discouraged.” The Titans have also implemented “recovery check-ins” for all injured players, where staff members discuss not just physical progress but also sleep quality, nutrition, and stress levels—factors that can delay healing. For backup linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who filled in for Long Jr., the team provided mental skills training to help him handle the pressure of a starting role. “They helped me stay present, instead of worrying about making mistakes,” Al-Shaair said. “That made a huge difference in my performance.” For the Tennessee Titans, this focus on mental health isn’t just compassionate—it’s strategic: players who are mentally resilient recover faster and perform better when they return. Injury Management Key for the Tennessee Titans Season emphasizes that in a sport as physically and mentally demanding as football, ignoring mental health can undermine even the best physical recovery plans.

Finally, the Tennessee Titans’ injury management success will ultimately be measured by their ability to keep core players healthy down the stretch—a challenge that will determine whether they can make a late playoff push or face an early offseason. With four games left, the Titans sit at 6-7, just one game behind the Jaguars for the AFC South lead. To close the gap, they’ll need key players like Henry, Byard, and Fulton to stay healthy—something that will require continued vigilance from the training staff. The team has already adjusted their practice schedule for the final month, eliminating full-pad practices entirely and focusing on walkthroughs and recovery. “Our goal is to have our best players on the field in January,” Kanavy said. “That means making smart decisions now, even if it means sitting a player for a practice or two.” For the Tennessee Titans, the stakes couldn’t be higher: a strong finish could turn a disappointing season into a playoff run, while another wave of injuries could seal their fate. Injury Management Key for the Tennessee Titans Season concludes that while injuries are inevitable in football, how a team manages them is a choice—and the Titans’ choices over the next four weeks will define their season. By continuing to prioritize proactive prevention, individualized care, and mental health support, they have a fighting chance to turn their injury challenges into a story of resilience.