Tragedy has befallen the Tennessee Titans as their playoff aspirations took a devastating blow in Week 9. The team announced on Monday that starting center Lloyd Cushenberry III and starting safety Quandre Diggs will miss the remainder of the 2024 season due to significant injuries suffered in Sunday’s 20-17 overtime victory against the New England Patriots.
According to head coach Brian Callahan, Cushenberry tore his Achilles tendon while pass blocking in the third quarter. The anchor of the Titans’ offensive line walked gingerly off the field and into the locker room under his own power, but further evaluation confirmed the worst. Diggs, meanwhile, injured his foot early in the second quarter while tackling Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas. He required assistance from the training staff to leave the field before being carted to the locker room.
Huge Losses for a Struggling Titans Squad
The loss of Cushenberry and Diggs deals a massive blow to a Titans team already sitting at a disappointing 2-6 record. Cushenberry, signed to a lucrative four-year, $50 million contract in March, brought veteran leadership and stability to the offensive trenches. His teammates recognized his impact by voting him a team captain before the season began.
Diggs, a hard-hitting safety known for his big plays and infectious energy, leaves a major void in the defensive secondary. His absence will force unproven backups into larger roles as the Titans cling to fading playoff hopes in a competitive AFC.
Next Men Up
In Cushenberry’s stead, the Titans turned to veteran reserve Corey Levin, who played 33 snaps after the starter went down. Levin, currently on the practice squad, was elevated to the active roster for Sunday’s game. Coach Callahan stated that Levin would get the nod at center in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers if right guard Dillon Radunz is unable to play due to a foot issue that sidelined him versus New England.
If Radunz can suit up, versatile lineman Daniel Brunskill, who filled in at right guard on Sunday, would slide over to center. The offensive line shuffle underscores the importance of quality depth, which will be put to the test in the trenches.
At safety, veteran backup Mike Brown saw extended action, playing 52 snaps in relief of Diggs. Brown benefited from increased practice reps last week as starting safety Amani Hooker was limited by a groin injury. “He was prepared, knew what to do and went out and performed well,” Callahan said of Brown, who is now thrust into a starting role.
Adversity Strikes in Nashville
The Titans, just two years removed from an unlikely run to the AFC Championship Game, face an uphill battle to return to postseason glory. With Cushenberry and Diggs out, unheralded role players must rise to the occasion for a roster that suddenly appears perilously thin at key positions.
As the season hangs in the balance, all eyes turn to Coach Callahan to rally his troops in the face of adversity. Callahan, in his first year at the helm following the surprising departure of longtime coach Mike Vrabel, faces the greatest test of his young head coaching career.
“When you get tested like this, you’ve got to take even more of a one game at a time approach,” a team source told the media on Monday. “There’s no magic solutions—next man up, fight for every inch, and believe in each other. That’s how you weather storms in this league.”
For the Titans, the storm is here—and it threatens to swallow their season whole. In the unforgiving world of the NFL, excuses earn no sympathy. Starting with a daunting matchup against Justin Herbert and the Chargers, Tennessee must quickly pick up the pieces and forge a new identity after losing two cornerstone players.
The Titans have little time to lick their wounds. As the old sports adage goes, the games—and the opponents—keep coming. For Callahan’s crew, the challenge is clear, the odds are stacked, and the skeptics are ready to pounce. It’s gut-check time in the Music City, and the Titans’ response will define their 2024 campaign—for better or for worse.
