The disastrous hits just keep on coming for the Tennessee Titans’ offensive line, as yet another one of the team’s starters was placed on injured reserve Friday.
Right guard Nate Davis is the latest victim on the injury-plagued Titans, as the 2019 third-round pick was placed on IR due to an ankle injury. He joins center Ben Jones, who was placed on the list on Thursday.
Now, the Titans have to replace their two best offensive lineman, which is disaster for a group that was already awful.
Chances are we’ll see some combination of Jordan Roos and Corey Levin filling in. Levin figures to play center in that scenario, but it’s also possible the Titans slide Aaron Brewer to the middle.
However, that may not even be an option this week, with Brewer being listed as questionable. Potentially making matters even worse, right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere is questionable as well.
In what is a sliver of good news, the Titans will be getting linebacker Zach Cunningham back, as the veteran was activated from IR.
The moves with Cunningham and Davis were just two of six made on Friday. Here are the rest (you can check out Tennessee’s full 53-man roster, practice squad and injured reserve list right here).
Placed on IR: RG Nate Davis
Activated from IR: LB Zach Cunningham
Cunningham’s return is big, as the Titans were also missing linebacker David Long, who is out until at least Week 18. Monty Rice figures to take Long’s spot on Saturday.
Promoted from practice squad: G/C Xavier Newman
Newman was an undrafted free agent signing of Tennessee in 2022 and has managed to stick on the practice squad all season.
Newman figures to provide depth, but maybe the Titans should give him a closer look than that with the season pretty much over. Who knows, maybe he turns out to be someone who can help this team in 2023.
Released from practice squad: OL Beau Benzschawel
We hardly knew ye: Benzschawel lasted less than a week on the Titans’ practice squad before they cut ties with him.
Elevated from practice squad for Week 16: RB Jonathan Ward
Ward was brought in last week but didn’t play. It’s bit curious that he’s being elevated with the Titans having Hassan Haskins and Julius Chestnut behind Derrick Henry, but perhaps they want his experience in the fold. There’s no guarantee he’ll be active, though.
Elevated from practice squad for Week 16: LB Andre Smith
If active, Smith will provide some depth at linebacker with Dylan Cole ruled out. He has appeared in two games for the Titans this season, playing only on special teams.
