Titans hopeful that star CB will return in Week 15

The Tennessee Titans haven't been hit with injuries the same way they have been in past seasons, but one area where the team hasn't had any luck is in the secondary.

When the season started, the starting defensive backs were supposed to be L'Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie, Roger McCreary, Quandre Diggs, and Amani Hooker. Unfortunately, that group only got to play two full games together this campaign.

Sneed is on IR and will miss 12 games by the end of the season. Diggs is on IR and will miss nine games after suffering a season-ending injury. and Awuzie missed nine games but returned to the lineup on Sunday, recording an interception in his return.

By the end of the season, those defensive backs will have missed at least 30 games, but it hasn't been all bad news for the secondary. Despite missing some time themselves, Hooker and McCreary have stepped into their own as on-field and off-field leaders.

Hooker has been the more obvious standout player because of his ability to create turnovers. The mainstay safety is actually tied for third in the NFL among all safeties in interceptions and is tied for sixth among all defensive backs.

McCreary has also been outstanding at nickel corner

McCreary has been most visible as a run defender and in-the-box defender. He leads all defensive backs in tackles for loss this season with 11 takedowns behind the line of scrimmage. Given the inconsistency at linebacker, McCreary has been a big asset for the Titans' defense in that area.

Cornerbacks don't get paid for what they do against the run, but that isn't a problem for McCreary because he's also been very good in coverage this year. McCreary has made life tough for receivers. He's allowing the fewest yards per reception among the 120 cornerbacks that qualify, according to Pro Football Focus.

McCreary isn't racking up an eye-popping amount of sacks or interceptions, but he is quick to diagnose and attack short passes and screens and quickly kill those plays. He isn't someone who you want in one-on-one coverage deep down the field against a mismatch Pro Bowl receiver, but McCreary has been very good outside of those situations this year.

As the Titans get ready to take on the Cincinnati Bengals this week, they will need all the help they can get on defense. Luckily, it sounds like the Titans are hopeful that McCreary will be able to suit up for that matchup.

We won't know how much of a difference he will make until Sunday, but a secondary with McCreary, Hooker, and Awuzie in the lineup should be the healthiest and most talented that this position group has been in months. Collectively, that impact should make a difference.