Titans vs. Broncos: 3 key matchups for Tennessee
By John Lowell
2. A.J. Brown vs. Isaac Yiadom (or Davontae Harris)
The motto for this matchup? Exploit, and get A.J. Brown involved down the field early and often.
Denver Broncos starting cornerback, Bryce Callahan, is out with a foot injury, and CB Isaac Yiadom is the next man up. Brown has shown no issue beating his man thus far, torching Atlanta Falcons CB Desmond Trufant in Week 4 for three catches, 94 yards, and two TDs.
Trufant even shadowed Brown, which at the time was a head-scratcher. Typically, your best corner shadows the other team’s X receiver, which in the Titans’ case is Corey Davis. The Falcons’ plans backfired — they couldn’t slow down Brown or Davis — but I don’t expect the Broncos to make the same mistake.
Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. will be all over Davis, leaving Yiadom opposite Brown.
Isaac Yiadom was benched at halftime against the Chargers, paving the way for Davontae Harris to get his shot at CB for the #Broncos.https://t.co/jW3ZU5mgw6
— Predominantly Orange (@PredomOrange) October 8, 2019
Let’s rewind a bit.
Cornerback Bryce Callahan has been nursing his foot injury since Week 14 of last season. He re-aggravated it in mid-September, leaving Yiadom holding the starting job. The good news for Titans fans is that, for a few weeks, he played so poorly that he lost it to CB De’Vante Bausby. Bausby has subsequently been placed on injured reserve (neck), springing Yiadom back in action.
As if that wasn’t enough of a roller-coaster, head coach Vic Fangio benched Yiadom halfway through their Week 5 showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Broncos are struggling to find an option opposite CB Chris Harris Jr.
There’s a world where sixth-string CB Devontae Harris gets the start on Sunday vs. the Titans. Either way, you know what that means—giddy-up, A.J.