Tennessee Titans: Harold Landry not playing in 3rd preseason game

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 16: Harold Landry #58 of the Tennessee Titans takes down Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants during their game at MetLife Stadium on December 16, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 16: Harold Landry #58 of the Tennessee Titans takes down Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants during their game at MetLife Stadium on December 16, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Harold Landry is not playing in the team’s dress rehearsal on Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Harold Landry will not suit up for the Tennessee Titans in the Preseason Week 3 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.

Jim Wyatt of Titans Online has the latest.

Landry has missed the Titans last four practices following the second preseason game, and now has missed all three of the Titans’ exhibition contests.

Recently, head coach Mike Vrabel said that Landry’s frequent absences were “by design,” but Vrabel isn’t normally forthcoming with specifics when it comes to player injuries.

There is some cause for concern here. If Landry was fully healthy, you’d assume he’d be more active in practices than he has been.

It is quite possible that Landry is fine at this point, but the rainy weather in Nashville on Sunday night that has led to slick conditions forced the Titans to keep him out instead of risking injury.

Landry is in his second year and plays an important role on the Titans defense. Tennessee was tied for 16th in the NFL in sacks last season, and Landry is the shot in the arm this defense needs to improve in that area.

Landry totaled 4.5 sacks in 2018, however two of those sacks came in the three starts he made near the end of the season. The Boston College product totaled six QB hits in that span, as well.

After posting those late-season numbers and knowing the kind of skill set Landry has, the optimism for his second season is through the roof.

While his status is unclear at the moment, it would make sense for the Titans to take things slowly in order to have Landry ready for when the games count.

Landry will have until September 8th to get things right, which is the date of the team’s regular season opener against the Cleveland Browns.