NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans will face their next challenge against the Indianapolis Colts without their starting defensive tackle, T’Vondre Sweat. The news was confirmed on Saturday, when the team placed him on the injured reserve list.
Sweat suffered an ankle injury during the season opener against the Denver Broncos. The 6-foot-4-inch, 366-pound player was unavailable for last week’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Although Sweat participated in light workouts, including jogging and individual exercises, he was unable to recover in time for the Week 3 game, after missing Friday’s practice.
The absence of Sweat represents a significant challenge for the Titans’ defense. According to NFL Next Gen Stats data, with Jeffery Simmons and Sweat on the field last season, the Titans’ defense allowed 4.3 yards per carry, the tenth-best mark in the league. However, with only one of the two players on the field, the average increased to 4.7 yards per carry, ranking among the six worst teams. The situation is further aggravated when neither Sweat nor Simmons is present, as the average rises to 5.2 yards per carry, which would be the worst record in the league.
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor had an outstanding performance against the Titans in Week 16, accumulating 218 rushing yards. In that game, Sweat played 40 snaps before suffering an eye injury that forced him to leave the game.
In the absence of Sweat, James Lynch, an experienced defensive tackle, will take on a more prominent role on the team. In addition, the Titans have activated Carlos Watkins from the practice squad to reinforce the defensive line.
