Titans will be without three key contributors vs. the Jets on Sunday
When the Tennessee Titans take on the New York Jets on Sunday, they will be without three valuable contributors. Wide receivers Julio Jones and AJ Brown and cornerback Caleb Farley will all miss the game, according to Ari Meirov of Pro Football Focus.
Losing Jones and Brown is a big blow to the Titans’ passing offense. In his first three games with the Titans, Jones has 12 receptions for 204 yards. Brown has just seven receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown so far this season.
Farley was selected 22nd overall in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech. He has played in just one game so far this season, where he played eight defensive snaps in the Titans’ season opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Losing Jones and Brown is a big blow in the Titans passing game
Jones and Brown are the Titans’ two most productive wide receivers so far this season. Running back Derrick Henry also has 12 receptions for 105 yards. With Jones and Brown sidelined against the Jets, young wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Chester Rogers, and Cameron Batson could see significantly more snaps at receiver for the Titans. Tight ends MyCole Pruitt, Geoff Swaim, Anthony Firkser, and Tommy Hudson could also see more involvement in the passing game.
Brown is coming off of a career-best season, although he has been a 1,000-yard receiver in each of his two NFL seasons. Last year, he had career highs with 1,075 yards and 11 touchdowns. Jones has been one of the league’s best receivers since he came into the league into 2011. After two injury riddled seasons, Jones is looking to prove that he is still one of the NFL’s best in his first year in Tennessee.
Luckily for the Titans, they have a very favorable matchup on Sunday against the Jets. The Jets have been abysmal to begin the year and currently sit at 0-3 on the season. The game script could very well favor the run game, which means a heavy dosage of Derrick Henry could be coming. Henry is averaging 117.7 yards per game with 353 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has completed 64.7% of his passes this season with 756 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Farley was one of the best defensive back prospects in the last NFL Draft. In two seasons at Virginia Tech, Farley had 56 tackles, six interceptions, and 19 passes defended.
The Titans host the Jets in Tennessee at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.