Tennessee Titans place OT Jack Conklin and TE Jonnu Smith on IR

OT Jack Conklin and TE Jonnu Smith were both placed on IR, ending their seasons with the Tennessee Titans before Week 15.

Last Thursday night, the Tennessee Titans demolished the Jacksonville Jaguars, but it came as a cost, as they lost two starters for the season. Tackle Jack Conklin and tight end Jonnu Smith landed on Injured Reserve on Tuesday afternoon. In corresponding moves, OL Austin Pasztor and TE Cole Wick were signed to the 53-man roster.

Conklin had been struggling all season after coming back from a torn ACL suffered in January during the playoffs against the New England Patriots. The Titans were holding out hope that Conklin could come back within a few weeks, but that doesn’t seem to be the case, though it doesn’t appear that the knee injury is concerning long-term. In the short-term, Dennis Kelly — who had arguably outplayed Conklin whenever he was on the field this season — will slot in as the starting right tackle.

Smith overcame a rough start to the season and had been coming along nicely in his development over the past month before tearing his MCL against the Jaguars. His injury came on Derrick Henry’s 99-yard touchdown, where Smith blocked two Jaguars out of the play. Working as the Titans’ top tight end after Delanie Walker was lost for the season, Smith finishes his sophomore campaign with 20 receptions for 258 yards and three touchdowns — all of which were career highs. Thankfully for the Titans, Anthony Firkser has shown some serious pass-catching ability and MyCole Pruitt has been one of the better run-blockers on the team in a limited role. Still, losing your top two players at a position is never easy to overcome.

As for the players brought in, Pasztor has appeared in 65 games and started 43 of them. He has had stints with the Jaguars, Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons. Wick has caught two passes for 18 yards in his career, having spent time with the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers.