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Nougat Davenport, ESPN
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed will be placed on injured reserve on Saturday, according to coach Brian Callahan. Sneed suffered a quadriceps injury when he took a helmet to his thigh in Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Sneed told ESPN that the injury occurred in the third quarter. The injury was initially diagnosed as a quadriceps bruise, but further examination revealed that it was actually a strain.
“He didn’t get better very quickly,” Callahan said. “We felt like we had a chance to get it back, but it hasn’t progressed and it’s been more complicated than a normal strain would be.”
Callahan went on to explain that they put Sneed on injured reserve because rest is best for his injury. Sneed has 23 tackles in five games this season.
“It’s been tough,” Sneed said earlier this month. “I want to be there to help my brothers. It’s been a challenge for me not being able to go out there in my first year with the organization to make a name for myself here and get respect.”
The Titans sent a 2025 third-round pick along with a 2024 seventh-round pick (221) to the Kansas City Chiefs for Sneed and a 2024 seventh-round pick (252). Sneed signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract in March after the trade.
Tennessee also signed free agent cornerback Chidobe Awuzie to a three-year, $36 million contract at the start of free agency. Awuzie previously injured his groin, landing him on injured reserve on September 27.
Rookie cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. started in place of Awuzie in Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins, while second-year cornerback Darrell Baker Jr. started in place of Sneed beginning in Week 7 against the Buffalo Bills.
Although Sneed hasn’t been able to do anything on the field while injured, the veteran said he has made it a point to share his notes and advice with younger players in meetings.
“He took me under his wing and had been giving me knowledge,” Brownlee said. “It’s helped me a lot with my game.”
Callahan said the Titans’ plan is to open Awuzie’s 21-day window to return from injured reserve next week and hopes the process to get him back on the field will be quick. As for Sneed, Callahan didn’t rule out the possibility of his return before the season ends.
