Calvin Ridley’s Week 7 status is suddenly one of the more interesting details on Tennessee’s injury report, and not just because of the hip issue. The Titans listed him as a non-participant in Thursday’s practice, then he missed practice again Friday and was given a questionable designation for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns.
That alone would matter. But with the trade deadline approaching, it looks even more noteworthy.
Ridley didn’t record a catch on two targets in last week’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and his involvement in Tennessee’s offense has been slipping all season. The veteran no longer appears to fit the direction this franchise is heading, even if he could make sense for someone else.
FOX Sports already put Ridley on the Titans’ top trade-candidate list earlier this week. Shaun Calderon went a step further, projecting him to the Los Vegas Rams for a sixth-round pick. After six straight weeks of action, the timing of this questionable tag only adds fuel to the speculation.
The Rams are one possible landing spot that makes sense on paper. They’ve been without Puka Nacua and just lost Davante Adams for an extended stretch in their receiver room, so a late-round pick for help at wideout would not be hard to justify.
The Los Angeles Chargers could also be in the mix. They need more playmakers around Justin Herbert, and Tennessee’s place in the standings gives teams around the league a reason to take a look at the older pieces the Titans might be willing to move.
If Ridley is truly available, a deal in the next few weeks would not come as a shock. It wouldn’t be surprising if Tennessee moved now, either, which is why the questionable designation stands out.
And it’s not just Ridley. With Tony Pollard also in the conversation, it would be hard to view a Titans move as anything other than possible at this point. Ridley’s offseason contract restructuring made it seem like he might stay put through the final two years of his deal, but his role has clearly looked different this season.
Adding another layer, Brian Daboll said just yesterday that he’s confident in Calvin Ridley and noted that the team has been working on increasing his involvement in practice.
So is this a precaution, or the last bit of cover before Tennessee makes a move? The answer should come soon enough.
In Other News...
Titans Rework Alontae Taylor After Benching Him For A Bigger Need
After being a healthy scratch in a recent game, Alontae Taylor is back in the mix at practice as the Titans take a fresh look at where he fits best. Robert Saleh has started working Taylor into slot corner rotations, a sign that Tennessee is rethinking how to use a defender whose versatility could matter more in nickel packages than in his previous role.
The move comes with some context attached, since the defense held up well without him and the staff now has room to be deliberate about the next step. Saleh has pointed to Taylor's effort in adjusting to the nickel spot and his positive response to being benched, but the bigger question is whether that new alignment becomes a real solution for a secondary that is still being sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Quietly Signal Concern About Their Offense Before Browns Game
The Titans are adding some extra insurance on offense ahead of Week 7, elevating running back Kelel Mullings and receiver K.J. Osborn from the practice squad for Sundays matchup with the Browns. It is the kind of move teams make when the injury report starts to thin out a little too much, and Tennessee could use the reinforcement with the game set for Nissan Stadium and CBS carrying the broadcast.
The timing is notable because several offensive players are listed as questionable, including backup running back Tyjae Spears and wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Elevations like this do not guarantee a major role, but they do suggest Tennessee is preparing for a few different scenarios as it tries to keep the offense functional against Cleveland. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Win Changed Nothing About One Tough Deadline Decision
The Titans finally got a win on the board, but it hardly changed the larger picture in Nashville. At 1-5, Tennessee is still staring at a long road back into the playoff conversation, and the coming weeks are less about chasing a run and more about deciding how aggressively to lean into a rebuild.
With the trade deadline nearing, several recognizable names could draw attention if the Titans decide draft capital matters more than holding the current core together. Jeffery Simmons, Amani Hooker, Tony Pollard and Alonte Taylor all sit in that uneasy space where value, contract status and team direction start to intersect, and for a front office trying to balance the present with the future, those choices can be a lot tougher than the scoreboard suggests. [Read more 🡒]