NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans will face the game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday with at least two important absences. Interim coach Mike McCoy confirmed this Friday the absence of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and wide receiver Calvin Ridley for the AFC South matchup. Both Ridley and Simmons missed all three practices this week due to hamstring injuries. Simmons’ injury occurred in the second quarter of last Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. He only participated in 12 plays and was ruled out for the second half. James Lynch led the defensive linemen with 44 plays, mainly in place of Simmons, whose 4.5 sacks lead the Titans this season.
Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson mentioned veterans Shy Tuttle, Sebastian Joseph-Day, T’Vondre Sweat, and Lynch as players who will need to step up their game in the absence of Simmons. Tennessee’s run defense has allowed 139 rushing yards per game, the 29th-worst mark in the league, with Simmons on the field. This week they will face Jonathan Taylor, who leads the NFL with 697 rushing yards. Ridley’s injury occurred after playing six plays in the 20-10 loss to Tennessee in Week 7. In six games, Ridley has caught 16 passes for 290 yards. Veteran receiver Van Jefferson started at the Z position in place of Ridley last week and managed four receptions for 41 yards. Jefferson appears to be the starter in place of Ridley on Sunday. The Titans will also be without wide receiver/special teams player Bryce Oliver against the Colts. Oliver suffered a knee injury against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2. Tennessee signed Mason Kinsey to the 53-man roster on Friday, after the veteran spent the season on the practice squad. The situation of outside linebacker Arden Key remains uncertain. Key, who did not attend the portion of Friday’s practice open to the press, is dealing with a quadriceps injury he suffered in Week 5, which caused him to miss several games. He is likely questionable against the Colts. Key has six tackles and 1.5 sacks this season. The Titans’ outside linebacker group was already thin after placing rookie Oluwafemi Oladejo on injured reserve earlier this month. Veterans Jihad Ward and Dre’Mont Jones recorded sacks last week with Key and Simmons out. They will form a rotation at the outside linebacker position, in addition to Jaylen Harrell and Ali Gaye. McCoy also ruled out offensive lineman Blake Hance for Sunday’s game.Jeff Simmons can’t be replaced. We’re going to need a lot of people to step up.
Dennard Wilson, Titans defensive coordinator
