The 10 biggest what-ifs in Titans history
• Could Billy Volek have been a franchise QB?
• Imagine the Titans locking up the sheriff...
No. 9 biggest "What if" in Titans history: Jevon Kearse's 2002 injury
Many talented defensive players suited up for the Titans in the late 1990s and the 2000 but one that stands out from the rest is defensive end Jevon Kearse, who could've had a Hall-of-Fame worthy career had it not been for a foot injury he suffered in 2002.
A first-round pick by Tennessee in the 1999 draft, the player affectionately known as The Freak had a great start to his NFL career, registering 14.5 sacks and eight forced fumbles. By Year 3, he had established himself as a force to be reckoned with, racking up 36 sacks and 15 forced fumbles.
Unfortunately, Kearse fractured his foot in the 2002 opener and ended up appearing in just four games that year. He went on to tally 9.5 sacks the following season but he wasn't the same player he was early in his career.
The 2003 season was Kearse's last with the Titans, as he left for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004. He registered 15 sacks in his first two seasons in the City of Brotherly Love. but wasn't nearly as dominant as he was with the Titans. The former Florida Gator returned to Tennessee in 2008 but he was nearly as effective as he was in his first stint. Still, his leadership was key and the Titans managed to go 21-9 during his last two seasons.
Kearse finished his career with 52 sacks, good for sixth in Titans' history. Had he not injured his foot, he would have had a legitimate shot at breaking Elvin Bethae's franchise record of 105.