The entirety of the Tennessee Titans fan base held its collective breath in Week 11 when defensive lineman Denico Autry went down with a knee injury in the third quarter.
Autry took an accidental shot to his knee from Packers offensive lineman Jon Runyan, and after laying on the field for a bit was able to get up under his own power.
He was initially ruled questionable to return before not playing another snap. The veteran looked distressed on the sideline before being carted to the locker room, but it’s hard to gauge much from that.
There is some good news after the game, though, as Titans beat writer Paul Kuharsky reports that Autry’s injury isn’t season-ending, although the extent and timeline are not yet known.
Denico Autry's knee injury is not a season-ender. #Titans
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) November 18, 2022
Autry’s importance to this defense can’t be understated, so this will be a situation to monitor closely.
The good news is Tennessee can weather the storm in the short term — and even for a potential four-game injured reserve stint if need be — and take its time to make sure Autry is available when it matters most.