Tennessee Titans: Injury Report – Week 2 vs. Houston Texans
The Tennessee Titans are dealing with an assortment injuries as they welcome the Houston Texans to Nissan Stadium this Sunday.
The Tennessee Titans’ Week 1 loss against the Miami Dolphins didn’t just hurt from a mental standpoint; the Titans lost several key players to injuries that make Week 2 a war of attrition on the Titans’ side. TE Delanie Walker has been lost for the year and LT Taylor Lewan and QB Marcus Mariota are still dealing with injuries sustained in Miami. Here is the Week 2 injury report.
Players That Are Officially Out
LT Taylor Lewan (concussion)
Lewan was knocked unconscious by a vicious cheap shot from Andre Branch in the Week 1 loss to Miami and will miss a game because of it. Kevin Pamphile is likely to step into Lewan’s spot on the blind side, which will be a massive downgrade, although Pamphile held his own when he filled in for Lewan last week.
RT Jack Conklin (knee)
As expected, the Titans are still taking it slow with their All-Pro right tackle while he works his way back from a late-season ACL tear. With Lewan and Conklin both out, the Titans’ offensive line is in for rough sledding against a very talented Texans front seven. Tyler Marz may have to be brought up from the practice squad, as the other offensive linemen on the 53-man roster are interior players.
S Kendrick Lewis (foot)
Lewis hasn’t been able to practice for about two weeks and will miss his second straight game. Dane Cruikshank and Brynden Trawick will continue to back up starters Kevin Byard and Kenny Vaccaro.
Players That Are 50-50
QB Marcus Mariota (elbow)
The other Titan who was cheapshotted in Week 1, Mariota is still feeling the effects of falling awkwardly on his right elbow and clearly isn’t at 100% yet. He didn’t throw at all on Thursday and Friday and is a serious doubt for Sunday. Head coach Mike Vrabel had an eyebrow-raising quote at his Friday press conference, stating that he expects BOTH Mariota and backup Blaine Gabbert to play. No one is sure what to make of the situation.
OT Dennis Kelly (illness)
As if matters weren’t bad enough with Lewan and Conklin both out, Conklin’s replacement from last week is dealing with an illness that kept him out of practice on both Thursday and Friday. Vrabel did imply today that Kelly will be available, so that is good news, but it’s still a situation to monitor.
TE Luke Stocker (calf)
Stocker popped up on the injury report Friday afternoon because everyone on the Titans is now injured. If Stocker can’t play, Anthony Firkser and MyCole Pruitt will be Jonnu Smith’s direct backups.
Players Likely to Play
WR Corey Davis (hamstring)
Davis was never in danger of missing Week 2. He was simply being managed like the staff said they would do throughout the season.
LB Rashaan Evans (hamstring)
Finally over a nagging hamstring injury, Evans will make his Titans debut on Sunday. He missed all of preseason and Week 1, so he will likely be eased in. He still might play a vital role in the outcome of the game, as his range might be needed in order to contain QB Deshaun Watson running with the ball.
OLB Harold Landry (ankle)
Landry ramped up his activity late in the week and should be all systems go for the Texans game. Landry’s presence is sorely needed, as the Titans failed to put any pressure on Ryan Tannehill in last week’s loss to the Dolphins.
OLB Derrick Morgan (knee)
Morgan should be fine after playing limited snaps in Week 1. He was micromanaged throughout practice this week and should be ready for a bigger workload.