The Titans may be getting a key piece back soon, and it could matter more than it sounds at first glance.
Fernando Carmona, the rookie right guard who flashed strong tape in his first two NFL starts, is officially back on the radar after landing on injured reserve with an ankle injury suffered against the New York Giants. He was knocked out of that game, later underwent surgery, and while the team never offered a deep breakdown of the injury, the expectation has been that it was not catastrophic and that he would return this season.
Now the timeline is starting to move. It has been six weeks since the injury, and the window has opened for Carmona to return to practice and begin working his way back into game shape. Titans head coach Robert Saleh recently said Carmona could return to practice next week.
That’s a notable development for an offensive line that has already held up well without him. Even with third-string right guard Atonio Mafi stepping in, Tennessee’s front has been the strongest unit on the roster through half the season.
But Carmona’s return would raise the ceiling. If he gets back into the lineup, this group has a real chance to push into the top 10 and stay there.
The right side of the line looked especially promising when Carmona and JC Latham were working together. They were regularly moving defenders and opening lanes the backs simply weren’t taking advantage of at the time. That part of the equation has changed now, with Tony Pollard finding a recent burst of production.
And that’s where Carmona’s return gets interesting. Tennessee’s offense has been building around the run game, using it to ease the burden on Cam Ward and create more chances for play-action and RPOs. If the line improves again, that formula should only get stronger.
It may not be the flashiest storyline on the surface, but Carmona coming back could give the Titans’ offense a real lift. For now, the focus is on the practice report and whatever Saleh says next as the rookie starts to push toward a return.
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