The Tennessee Titans are heading into the bye week in rough shape, and the timing could hardly be better.
After a disappointing overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee is carrying a battered roster into the break. The Titans were already without starters Carnell Tate and Tommy Townsend, along with top reserve Tyjae Spears, and the injury list only grew from there as the game wore on.
Starting offensive linemen Peter Skoronski and LC Latham both went down, and the Titans also lost Marcus Harris, James Williams, and Anthony Hill Jr. That left Tennessee stretched thin up front and at linebacker in the closing moments and overtime.
The line protecting Cam Ward as he tried to force a tie or steal a win was a patchwork group: Dan Moore, Garrett Dellinger, Austin Schlottman, Antonio Mafi, and James Hudson. That’s the kind of emergency setup that says plenty about how beaten up this team is.
There’s another major injury situation lingering beyond the Bengals game, too. John Franklin-Myers is still dealing with a severe back injury that has bothered him since early in the preseason, and it has already cut into his production in the first half of the season.
That matters even more now with Jeffery Simmons having been dealt to the Chicago Bears. Tennessee will need Franklin-Myers as close to full strength as possible when the season resumes and the second half begins.
For now, though, the Titans aren’t offering much in the way of updates. Head coach Robert Saleh said no new information will be provided until it is required ahead of their matchup with the Jaguars.
In Other News...
Titans Sent A Clear Message About Jeffery Simmons After His Trade
Jeffery Simmons departure to Chicago did not go unnoticed in Tennessee, and the Titans made sure of that in their next game. The defensive line showed up with red sleeves as a nod to the veteran tackle, a small but visible tribute to a player who had become a central figure in the room and on the field.
Solomon Thomas spoke about Simmons impact on the team and the gesture that followed his trade, underscoring how much respect he had earned inside the building. For a defense trying to move forward without one of its defining voices, the tribute said plenty about the standard Simmons left behind and the void the Titans now have to fill. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Trade Drama Just Took A Wild Jeffery Simmons Turn
Trade chatter around Jeffery Simmons took an unusual turn when Giants coach John Harbaugh confirmed he reached out directly to Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk about a possible deal. The move came after New York reportedly was not getting anywhere through Tennessee general manager Mike Borgonzi, which pushed Harbaugh to try a different route as the sides explored whether there was any real traction on the defensive tackle.
Harbaugh also made clear he has no interest in following any unwritten etiquette that might keep coaches from picking up the phone on matters like this, saying he would make similar calls again if needed. For Tennessee, it adds another layer to a situation already worth watching, since Simmons remains the kind of player who can alter a defense and draw interest even when the usual front-office path is not producing movement. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Rebuild Just Put Jacob Martin At The Center Of A Debate
Jacob Martins best game of the season came in a loss that only sharpened the bigger conversation around the Titans direction. In the overtime defeat to Cincinnati, the edge rusher piled up three sacks and nine quarterback pressures, the kind of disruptive night that stands out even on a team sitting at 1-7 and deep in a rebuilding stretch.
With the November 10 trade deadline approaching, Martin has suddenly become one of the more interesting names on Tennessees roster. The Titans have already shown a willingness to move pieces as they sort through the future, and a productive pass rusher on a struggling team naturally draws attention, even if no deal has been confirmed. [Read more 🡒]