The Tennessee Titans will be without six players for their Week 1 matchup against the New York Jets, with linebacker Cedric Gray headlining the list after entering concussion protocol earlier this week because of a reported UTV accident.
Gray’s status had been in doubt through the week, and by the weekend it was clear he would not make it back in time. His absence opens the door for Titans rookies and reserves to get an early chance to make an impression.
Tennessee’s other inactive players are newly signed cornerback Jaylon Jones, defensive tackle Jackie Marshall, linebacker Owen Pappoe, offensive tackle Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, running back Nick Singleton, and offensive lineman Atonio Mafi.
Most of those names are depth pieces. Pappoe was claimed on waivers and was expected to contribute primarily on special teams, while Singleton entered the game as a rookie with only an outside shot at touches.
The Jets will also be short-handed, though their list is a little shorter. New York will be without EDGE Joseph Ossai, cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, linebacker Trevin Wallace, running back Keke Nwangu, and kicker Blake Grupe.
Ossai is the biggest loss on that side. He is in his fifth season and first with the Jets after posting five sacks last year for the Cincinnati Bengals. Ponds, a rookie corner, was competing for meaningful snaps right away, and Wallace, now in his third year, arrived after recording two sacks with the Carolina Panthers last season.
Both teams are still bringing most of their starters on offense and defense, so the inactives are unlikely to tell the whole story. Even so, New York may be the side feeling the absences a touch more when the game kicks off.
In Other News...
Robert Saleh Sounds Early Alarm After Titans Opener Unravels
The Titans season opener against the Jets never settled into the kind of rhythm Tennessee wanted, and by the end of a 23-10 loss, the issues were easy enough to spot. Head coach Robert Saleh pointed to missed throws from quarterback Cam Ward and a Jets running game that kept the Titans from finding much traction, leaving Tennessee with more questions than answers after one week.
Salehs postgame tone made clear this was less about one bad afternoon than about getting a team to tighten up before the schedule moves on. He was frustrated with how it unfolded, but the message was plain: the Titans have to clean up the execution quickly if they want the early part of the season to mean anything. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Already Face Early Heat After This Lifeless Home Opener
The Titans home opener turned into an ugly reset in front of a restless crowd, with the Jets leaving Nashville with a 23-10 win and a clear sense of momentum under first-year coach Aaron Glenn. It also marked a notable step forward for New York, which picked up its first winning record since early 2024 behind a steady debut from Glenn and offensive coordinator Frank Reich, plus solid work from Geno Smith and Breece Hall.
For Tennessee, the louder story was the reaction inside the building. The home crowd booed as the Titans sputtered through a flat afternoon, a sign of how quickly the early-season pressure can build when a game slips away at home. The schedule does not ease up from here, either, with Philadelphia next on the slate and little time for Tennessee to let this one linger. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Still Have One Big Problem Despite Staying Within Reach
At halftime against the Jets, the Titans were still hanging around, but the reasons for the gap on the scoreboard looked familiar. A short catch by rookie Carnell Tate gave him his first reception of the season, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. was busy again with nine tackles, and Chimere Dike managed a grab after putting the ball on the ground on a kick return. Tennessee had enough individual flashes to stay within striking distance, even while the offense continued searching for steadier answers.
The bigger concern was on the other side of the ball, where Alontae Taylor had a rough stretch in coverage and was flagged for pass interference. For a team trying to keep games close and create opportunities late, that kind of breakdown is costly because it erases the work done elsewhere. The Titans were still alive at the break, but the defensive margin for error already looked thin. [Read more 🡒]