The Tennessee Titans’ secondary suffered another setback on Saturday as coach Brian Callahan announced that cornerback L’Jarius Sneed will be placed on injured reserve due to a lingering quad injury. The strain, initially misdiagnosed as a bruise, occurred during the Titans’ Week 6 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts when Sneed took a helmet to the thigh.
Sneed, who joined the Titans this offseason in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs, has been a key addition to Tennessee’s defense. In his five games with the team, he has already recorded 23 tackles. However, the quad injury has proven to be more complex than initially thought, hindering his recovery and forcing the Titans to make a difficult decision.
Rest and Recovery: The Best Path Forward
Coach Callahan explained that placing Sneed on injured reserve was the best course of action to allow the cornerback the necessary time to heal. “It didn’t get better very fast,” Callahan said. “We felt like we had a chance to get him back, but it has not progressed and has been more complicated than a normal strain would be.”
“It’s been tough,” Sneed told ESPN earlier this month. “I want to be out there to help my brothers. It’s been challenging for me that I can’t get out there coming into my first year with the organization to make a name for myself here and get respect.”
A Costly Trade
The Titans acquired Sneed and a 2024 seventh-round pick from the Chiefs in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick and a 2024 seventh-round selection. Following the trade, Sneed signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract extension with Tennessee, solidifying his role as a cornerstone of the Titans’ defense.
Awuzie’s Return on the Horizon
The Titans’ secondary has been hit hard by injuries this season, with fellow cornerback Chidobe Awuzie also landing on injured reserve in September due to a groin injury. However, Callahan revealed that the team plans to open Awuzie’s 21-day window to return from IR next week, with the expectation that his reintegration into the lineup will be swift.
Young Titans Step Up
In the absence of Sneed and Awuzie, the Titans have relied on the contributions of younger players like rookie Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and second-year cornerback Darrell Baker Jr. Sneed, despite being sidelined, has made it a point to mentor his younger teammates, sharing his knowledge and experience to help them develop.
“He took me under his wing and had just been feeding me knowledge,” Brownlee said of Sneed. “It’s been helping me with my game a ton.”
A Glimmer of Hope
While Sneed’s absence is undoubtedly a significant loss for the Titans, Coach Callahan hasn’t ruled out the possibility of the cornerback’s return before the end of the season. As the team continues to navigate a challenging season marred by injuries, the potential return of both Sneed and Awuzie could provide a much-needed boost to the Titans’ playoff aspirations.
As the NFL season enters its crucial final stretch, the Tennessee Titans will need to rely on the depth and resilience of their roster to overcome the challenges posed by injuries to key players like L’Jarius Sneed. With young talent stepping up and the potential return of veteran leaders on the horizon, the Titans remain focused on their goal of making a deep playoff run.
