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Colton Dowell Colton Dowell Won't return in Week 16
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 4:01 PM
Dowell (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Colts.
Analysis: Dowell practiced in a limited fashion throughout the week but will remain on the reserve/PUP list and miss the Titans' divisional matchup Sunday. The UT Martin product has yet to suit up this season after tearing his ACL in December of 2023, but he was designated to return from the reserve/PUP list Monday, suggesting a return to the field is in the near future. |
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Tony Pollard Tony Pollard Questionable after another missed practice
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 3:25 PM
Pollard (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Colts after not practicing this week, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Analysis: Fortunately for those who would normally consider Pollard in fantasy lineups, the Titans kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, a scenario that would in most cases allow fantasy managers to turn to Week 16 pivot options if he's sidelined. If Pollard ends up limited or out versus Indianapolis, Tyjae Spears would be in line to see an expanded backfield role for Tennessee this weekend. |
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Will Levis Will Levis Questionable for Week 16
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 3:24 PM
Levis (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Colts.
Analysis: Levis was added to the injury report Friday, getting in a limited session. Coach Brian Callahan already had announced Mason Rudolph as the team's starting quarterback for Week 16 against the Colts. Trevor Siemian is on the practice squad as a candidate to be elevated should Levis be unable to serve as the team's QB2 this weekend. |
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Tyler Boyd Tyler Boyd Cleared to play Sunday
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 3:21 PM
Boyd (foot) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Colts.
Analysis: Boyd was listed as DNP on Wednesday and Thursday but returned to a full practice Friday and is good to go for Sunday's divisional matchup. He's topped 50 receiving yards in a game just once all season and has yet to catch a touchdown. He's far from fantasy relevancy on this Titans team. |
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Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Set for Week 16
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 3:08 PM
Westbrook-Ikhine (ankle) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's contest in Indianapolis.
Analysis: Westbrook-Ikhine was held out of drills Wednesday and Thursday due to an ankle injury, but his return to a full session Friday has cleared him for Week 16 action. With Tyler Boyd (foot) following the same practice regimen this week and also entering the weekend without a designation, the top of the Titans' receiving corps is good to go for Sunday. As a result, Westbrook-Ikhine will remain a TD-dependent option while working with new starting quarterback Mason Rudolph. |
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Tyler Boyd Tyler Boyd Not practicing
Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 4:08 PM
Boyd (foot) didn't practice Thursday, Jim Wyatt of tennesseetitans.com reports.
Analysis: Boyd played through the same injury the past couple weeks and handled his usual workload as the No. 3 receiver. A return to practice Friday would set him up to play again Sunday against the Colts. |
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Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Nick Westbrook-Ikhine No practice Thursday
Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 4:07 PM
Westbrook-Ikhine (ankle) didn't practice Thursday, Jim Wyatt of tennesseetitans.com reports.
Analysis: WR Tyler Boyd (foot) and RB Tony Pollard (ankle) also missed practice both Wednesday and Thursday, but they're dealing with injuries they played through the past few weeks, while Westbrook-Ikhine's ankle is a new problem. The Titans have Bryce Oliver, Mason Kinsey and Jha'Quan Jackson for WR depth if Westbrook-Ikhine and/or Boyd doesn't play Sunday against Indianapolis. |
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Tony Pollard Tony Pollard Misses practice Thursday
Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 3:45 PM
Pollard (ankle) didn't practice Thursday, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Pollard hasn't practiced much in recent weeks while managing foot and/or ankle injuries, but he's played in every game this season and finished with no fewer than 29 snaps or nine touches in any contest. There's some extra concern this week, however, as he aggravated his ankle during Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Bengals and may thus be dealing with more discomfort relative to previous weeks. He returned to the game in short order but then took a back seat to Tyjae Spears in the fourth quarter when the Titans were chasing a multi-score deficit. In any case, a return to practice Friday presumably would put Pollard on track to play Sunday against Indianapolis. |
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Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Nick Westbrook-Ikhine DNP due to ankle Wednesday
Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 3:10 PM
Westbrook-Ikhine (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Analysis: Westbrook-Ikhine played 91 percent of Tennessee's offensive snaps in the Week 15 loss to Cincinnati, so he didn't appear to be hampered by an injury. He was held to just two catches for nine yards and has failed to find the end zone in consecutive games following a stretch of eight touchdowns in eight weeks. The starting wideout will have two chances to resume practicing before Sunday's game in Indianapolis. |
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Tony Pollard Tony Pollard Held out of practice
Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 3:05 PM
Pollard (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Analysis: Pollard has played through foot and/or ankle injuries for the better part of two months, including last week when he was listed as questionable and then briefly left a 37-27 loss to the Bengals in the first half after aggravating his ankle. He returned to the game and took 10 more carries for 18 yards to finish with a 17-45-1 rushing line, but Tyjae Spears then dominated the playing time and touches in the fourth quarter with Tennessee trailing by multiple scores. Pollard is at some risk of either missing Sunday's game against the Colts or handling a lesser role than what he's been tasked with for most of the season. |
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Tyler Boyd Tyler Boyd Opens week with DNP
Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 3:02 PM
Boyd (foot) didn't practice Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Analysis: Boyd also opened Week 15 prep with a DNP due to a foot injury before upgrading to full participation Thursday and ultimately logging 39 yards in a loss to the Bengals this past Sunday. It's possible the slot receiver will follow a similar pattern ahead of Sunday's game against the Colts, but Boyd won't be a recommended fantasy option either way considering he has reached 40 receiving yards only twice all season and hasn't scored a touchdown. |
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Will Levis Will Levis Benched for Mason Rudolph
Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 1:47 PM
Head coach Brian Callahan announced Wednesday that Levis will move to the bench for Sunday's game against the Colts, with Mason Rudolph replacing him as the Titans' starting quarterback, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Rudolph is expected to direct the offense for the final three games of the season, though Callahan is reserving the right to change his mind on a week-to-week basis. Callahan also suggested that he still believes in Levis long term and doesn't think he's done as an NFL starting quarterback, according to Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com. In any case, Levis will be the team's backup quarterback this Sunday in Indianapolis. |
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Mason Rudolph Mason Rudolph Named as Week 16 starter
Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 1:38 PM
Head coach Brian Callahan announced Wednesday that Rudolph will start Sunday's game against the Colts and may also start the final two weeks of the season, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Analysis: Rudolph will likely start the final three games of the season unless he gets injured or turns in a truly irredeemable performance, as there's not much reason for the Titans to turn back to Will Levis otherwise. The two quarterback have similar rate stats in many categories, but Rudolph has been far better at avoiding sacks, including this past Sunday. In the Titans' 37-27 loss to the Bengals, Rudolph attempted 26 passes and didn't take any sacks after coming on in relief of Levis, finishing with 21 completions for 209 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. |
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Mason Rudolph Mason Rudolph Poised to step in as starter
Tue, Dec 17, 2024, 2:06 PM
Rudolph is expected to take over as the Titans' starting quarterback in Sunday's game against the Colts, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Fowler's report merely notes that Tennessee is "planning to make a switch at quarterback," but unless the Titans elect to install practice-squad member Trevor Siemian as their starter, Rudolph is the logical candidate to step in for Will Levis, who will head to the bench after turning the ball over four times before being removed midway through the third quarter of this past Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Bengals. Though the 25-year-old Levis has youth and his status as a recent second-round draft pick working in his favor, the Titans may have already determined that he's not their long-term answer at quarterback after he turned the ball over 17 times (12 interceptions, five lost fumbles) through 11 starts this season. Rudolph, meanwhile, brings more experience to the table but hasn't built upon the late-season success he enjoyed as Pittsburgh's starter in 2023. Over his five appearances with Tennessee -- including three starts from Weeks 7 through 9 while Levis was out with a shoulder injury -- Rudolph has completed 63 percent of his passes for 6.6 yards per attempt and a 6:5 TD:INT to go with 75 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. |
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Will Levis Will Levis Expected to lose starting gig
Tue, Dec 17, 2024, 1:58 PM
Levis is expected to move into a backup role for Sunday's game at Indianapolis, with Mason Rudolph likely in line to replace him as the Titans' starting quarterback, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Unless the team elects to award the start to practice-squad member Trevor Siemian, Rudolph represents the logical candidate to replace Levis. The second-year signal-caller will head to the bench after he endured another tough outing in this past Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Bengals, when he completed eight of 12 pass attempts for 89 yards and three interceptions while also losing a fumble before being pulled midway through the third quarter. Through 11 starts this season, Levis has completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 6.3 yards per attempt and 12 touchdowns, but turnovers have been a major issue. He's lost five fumbles and has thrown 12 interceptions, including an NFL-high four pick-sixes. Levis' lack of development will likely prompt the Titans to pursue an upgrade at quarterback through the draft or free agency this offseason. |
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Chig Okonkwo Chig Okonkwo Surprising spike in involvement
Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 7:57 PM
Okonkwo recorded eight catches (on 10 targets) for 59 yards in Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Bengals.
Analysis: Okonkwo was on the field for only 60 percent of offensive snaps, but he was peppered with targets by both Will Levis and Mason Rudolph. As a result, Okonkwo saw a career-best 10 targets and managed to reach 50 receiving yards for the third time this season. Though this was an outlier performance, he's earned at least four targets in three straight games and in seven of his last nine contests. |
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Josh Whyle Josh Whyle Catches TD as time expires
Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 7:43 PM
Whyle recorded five receptions (on five targets) for 37 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Bengals.
Analysis: Both Whyle and Chigoziem Okonkwo were heavily involved in the Tennessee offense, with Whyle matching his season best of five targets. Whyle's work began with the Titans down multiple scores late in the third quarter, with the highlight being a 13-yard touchdown catch as time expired in the blowout loss. Whyle continues to have an offensive snap rate south of 30 percent in most recent games, though he has topped 30 receiving yards in consecutive contests. |
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Tyler Boyd Tyler Boyd One long catch against former team
Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 7:31 PM
Boyd recorded two receptions (on three targets) for 39 yards in Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Bengals.
Analysis: Boyd got his first chance to face his former team and delivered an impressive 40-yard catch and run on the Titans' second possession to set up a touchdown. However, he failed to make an impact from there, as his only other reception went for minus-1 yard. Boyd has failed to reach 40 receiving yards in all but two games on the campaign. |
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Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Another quiet showing
Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 7:20 PM
Westbrook-Ikhine recorded two catches (on three targets) for nine yards in Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Bengals.
Analysis: Westbrook-Ikhine remained relatively uninvolved in the Tennessee offense for the second straight week, and he now has only five targets combined across his last two games. He's still maintained a near full-time snap rate, so a bounceback is possible. However, Westbrook-Ikhine is also likely to be held back by quarterback play, regardless of whether Mason Rudolph or Will Levis is under center. |
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Colton Dowell Colton Dowell Takes next step
Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 3:57 PM
Dowell (knee) was designated to return from the reserve/PUP list Monday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Analysis: Dowell now has a 21-day window to practice with the team, which will take him to the end of Tennessee's season. However, he could be activated beforehand and still appear for the team this year. The UT Martin product suffered a torn ACL in December of last year and has been out of action since, so it may take him some time still to get back up to speed. |
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