The Tennessee Titans’ 2022 protection was dealt a devastating blow on Thursday after information broke that outdoors linebacker Harold Landry had suffered a torn ACL in apply on Wednesday.
Landry was recent off a profession yr with 12 sacks and a Professional Bowl look, and he was rightly awarded with a contract extension earlier this offseason.
Now, the Titans have monumental sneakers to fill after dropping one in all their greatest defenders. Not solely is Landry a stud pass-rusher who performs a ton of snaps, however he additionally performs properly towards the run and is usually requested to drop again into protection.
Changing Landry possible gained’t be a one-man job. Whether or not or not the Titans look outdoors the crew to get assist stays to be seen, however Tennessee does have in-house choices it will probably deploy to try to cowl the manufacturing misplaced.
Backside line: the Titans want guys to step up. Right here’s a have a look at six Titans gamers who match the invoice.
Bud Dupree
AP Picture/Brett Carlsen
With Landry out for the season, Dupree turns into the alpha canine within the crew’s outdoors linebackers room.
It was a tough first season in Nashville for Dupree, who not solely struggled in his return from a torn ACL but additionally bumped into authorized points through misdemeanor assault fees that he in the end plead responsible to, receiving a suspended sentence.
As poorly as issues went for Dupree in 2021, there are causes for optimism. Loads of instances when guys come again from such a severe damage they aren’t the identical within the first yr again, which could have been the case with Dupree.
Including to that, the veteran appeared to get stronger because the yr progressed, as evidenced by his notching three of his 4 sacks within the final 5 video games (together with playoffs).
“I’d say it was within the playoff sport , that’s when issues began to actually unfold, began feeling a bit of higher,” Dupree admitted, per John Glennon of Sports activities Illustrated. “Then going into this offseason, had lots of alternatives to go and preserve rehabbing and proceed on that .”
Tennessee didn’t get a lot from Dupree in 2021, but they nonetheless had a top-10 pass-rush. That won’t occur in 2022 if Dupree doesn’t enhance.
Rashad Weaver
The Titans had been possible hoping to ease Weaver again in after an injury-shortened rookie season, however you possibly can kiss that goodbye. Tennessee now wants its second-year professional to step into a much bigger position instantly.
After all, the Titans produce other choices to assist fill the void of dropping Landry, however Weaver is the man Tennessee is hoping would be the future on the place after taking him within the fourth spherical final yr.
He flashed in preseason in 2021 and was among the many crew’s greatest standouts this yr. Weaver was an absolute menace in each preseason contest.
Now the query turns into, can he do it towards harder competitors within the common season? The jury remains to be very a lot out on that.
Ola Adeniyi
Primarily identified for his particular groups play, Adeniyi flashed as a pass-rusher in 2021, notching 2.5 sacks within the first three video games. Nevertheless, Adeniyi went quiet after that and didn’t tally one other sack the remainder of the season.
He would possibly get the primary crack at filling in for Landry due to his expertise, however Adeniyi needs to be extra constant if he desires to maintain seeing the sector. He additionally has to fend off Weaver, who we consider will in the end be the man to safe Landry’s position.
Denico Autry
Autry is named a defensive lineman, however the Titans used him off the sting in 2021, giving the crew one other choice to fill the void left by Landry’s damage.
Whereas taking part in inside and outside, Autry tied his career-high with 9 sacks and was simply Tennessee’s greatest offseason acquisition, proving to be a steal with an annual common wage of $7.6 million.
Autry has been coping with a hand damage all through coaching camp, however the excellent news is he was again at apply on Wednesday and appears on monitor to be prepared for Week 1.
DeMarcus Walker
Signed by the Titans in Could, Walker impressed in coaching camp and secured himself a spot on the crew’s 53-man roster. The transfer so as to add him appears pretty much as good as ever, because the veteran is one other participant who provides out and in versatility.
Walker posted simply two sacks in 13 video games (two begins) in 2021, however had 8.5 in 23 video games (5 begins) the 2 years prior. He’ll possible be one of many final choices Tennessee makes use of, however he’s an excellent choice to have nonetheless.
David Anenih
The Titans may have a spot open on their roster after they inevitably place Landry on injured reserve, and that spot ought to go to 2022 UDFA, Anenih, who ought to have earned a roster spot within the first place.
Anenih was routinely one of many greatest standouts for Tennessee, each in apply and the preseason. He nabbed three sacks within the first two preseason video games, after which adopted that up by batting down a pair of passes within the finale versus the Cardinals.
Anenih could have a tough time getting appears, because the 5 guys listed earlier than him right here will possible see the sector at any given time earlier than he does, however the Titans can be smart to not less than give him a take care of the promise he has proven.