In what can only be described as a perfect example of the Tennessee Titans' luck over the last few years, leading tackler and emerging star linebacker Cedric Gray is going to be questionable for the game this weekend after a UTV accident has left him in concussion protocol.
Thankfully, it wasn't worse, and everyone wishes him a quick and easy recovery. However, the NFL is a business, and that means Robert Saleh and staff have to figure out how to mitigate his loss if he misses Week 1 versus the New York Jets.
The good news is that two young linebackers on the roster now have a golden opportunity on their hands.
Tennessee Titans LBs James Williams, Anthony Hill must step up if Cedric Gray misses Week 1 versus the New York Jets
Everyone will be quick to think of Anthony Hill Jr., and there is a good reason for that. Out of all of the Titans' backups, Hill and Elic Ayomanor are the two players who have consistently pushed the player in front of them for more playing time. Hill has been a walking playmaker in coverage and against the run, and if he gets the nod, fans can expect him to be an effective player from the first snap.
However, if the Titans want a more dynamic and volatile player next to Cody Barton, they might want to take a look at James Williams. While Hill made more plays in the preseason, Williams is a taller, longer player who plays with a unique aggression that makes him enticing.
Older Titans fans will recognize that Williams plays like David Long Jr., but with much longer arms. While he might get overaggressive at times, he is the guy that you want knifing into the backfield on the backside of an outside zone run because he might just come up with a five-yard loss.
The good news is that the Titans have a few days to make this decision, and the even better news is that this is going to give the coaching staff a real look at what these young defenders look like against starters in the regular season. Whichever one looks the best could be the player that the team chooses to replace Barton if he continues to be a half-step slow in some of his decision-making.
It is bad news for the Titans if they lose Gray for any length of time, but there is a silver lining, and that could end up helping them in the long run.
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