The Tennessee Titans have been playing without their best offensive tackle. Sophomore blocker JC Latham first suffered a hip injury during training camp. It was described as minor, but Latham re-injured the same hip during the first half of Tennessee's Week 1 defeat to the Denver Broncos.
He hasn't played since. Latham wasn't placed on injured reserve, as the Titans hoped he'd return before the four-game minimum. Unfortunately, Latham has already missed four games, meaning his recovery took a little longer than initially hoped.
On Wednesday, the Titans delivered the Latham injury update the fanbase has been waiting for. Latham returned to practice. That strongly indicates he'll return to the lineup in Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Titans OT JC Latham appears primed to return from injury in Week 6
Tennessee's offensive line began the campaign in lackluster fashion. They especially missed Latham early in the schedule in difficult matchups against the Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans. The Titans have started two offensive tackles in his place, trying both Oli Udoh and John Ojukwu.
Udoh eventually took the lead, but Latham's presence was missed. Despite playing fewer snaps than most Titans offensive linemen, Udoh has allowed the second-most pressures on the offensive line (13), and Ojukwu has allowed the third-most (10), per Pro Football Focus. Udoh's pass-blocking grade is a lackluster 50.6, and Ojukwu's is even worse (45.2).
Tennessee's offensive line has improved in recent weeks, though. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward was sacked just twice in the Week 5 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Ward was pressured on just 10 of his 42 dropbacks, his lowest pressure rate of the season, per Next Gen Stats.
Getting Latham healthy should further improve the Titans' offensive line. The pass protection in front of Ward is trending upwards. Fans possessed high expectations for the offensive line, and Latham's return could ensure the new-look unit starts meeting their preseason projections more consistently.