The Tennessee Titans reportedly suffered a significant injury just after the team released its first 53-man roster of the 2022 regular season. Starting linebacker Harold Landry suffered a torn ACL during practice Wednesday, according to ESPN.
Landry, 26, was coming off a 2021 season that saw him win Pro Bowl honors for the first time. The 2018 second-round pick racked up a career-high 12 sacks while helping the Titans clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC heading into the playoffs.
After making three starts as a rookie, Landry has started in every Titans game over the past three seasons. During that span, the former Boston College standout had 31 sacks, 256 tackles (41 for loss), two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Landry’s injury slightly altered the Titans’ chances of winning the AFC South for a third consecutive year. Tennessee’s odds of winning the division have risen from 35.5% to 32.6%, according to CBS Sports data scientist Stephen Oh. The Titans’ odds of making the playoffs also dropped from 55.6% to 52.3%.
Ola Adeniyi is currently listed behind Landry on the Titans depth chart. A former undrafted rookie, Adeniyi signed with the Titans in 2021 after spending his first three seasons in Pittsburgh. In his first season in Nashville, Adeniyi recorded a career-high 2.5 sacks while playing in 16 games. He was a consistent presence on special teams last season, appearing in at least 59% of the Titans’ special teams snaps in all but one game he was active in.
Rashad Weaver, a 2021 fourth-round pick who played two games last season, is also expected to play a bigger role on defense given Landry’s injury.
Expect the Titans to quickly address the Landry loss ahead of their Week 1 game with the Giants. There are several free agent pass rushers, including former 49ers Pro Bowler Dee Ford, who are currently free agents with the start of the regular season on the horizon.
