Titans look to boost playoff hopes
Broncos’ leading receiver, Sanders, tears Achilles tendon
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Jacksonville Jaguars already have fallen quickly, from being a win away from their first Super Bowl berth in January to last in the AFC South in December.
The Tennessee Titans desperately want to avoid joining them as a one-anddone playoff team, especially after sweeping the Jaguars last season.
“That’s something we can’t allow to happen,” Titans defensive lineman Jurrell Casey said. “We want to keep them where they’re at — at the end of the division and leave them there. We got to make sure we take care of our part. At the end of the day, we can’t worry about them. We have to worry about ourselves because we ain’t played so hot this year ourselves.”
That’s true. The Titans (6-6) had to rally from 16 points down to beat the Jets 26-22 to snap a twogame skid. Tennessee likely needs to win out and for sure needs some help with four teams between the Titans and the second AFC wild-card berth they earned last season.
The Jaguars (4-8) are not quite mathematically finished after snapping a seven-game skid with a 6-0 shutout of Andrew Luck and the Colts last weekend. QB Cody Kessler now has a start under his belt, and running back Leonard Fournette will be back from suspension, too. But the Jaguars have lost three straight and five of the last six to Tennessee.
“Three straight times?” Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith said. “Dang. We’re going to go out and make sure we get the win. That’s all we’ve got to focus on.”
BRONCOS: Denver (6-6) lost leading wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders to a torn left Achilles tendon Wednesday. He was hurt in a non-contact drill at the beginning of practice.
The Broncos quickly claimed WR Andre Holmes off waivers from Buffalo, giving them a seventh-year veteran to go with their four remaining receivers, all of whom made their NFL debuts this season.
Sanders, who led the team with 71 catches for 868 yards and four touchdowns in a bounce-back year, was injured on a routine route.
DOLPHINS: On the same day NFL interception leader Xavien Howard was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week, he sat out practice with a sore knee.
Howard joined his team’s long injury list Wednesday. His availability is uncertain for this week’s game against New England .
Fellow Miami DB Bobby McCain said he was confident Howard will play. Coach Adam Gase was less optimistic, saying Howard’s status is week to week.
Gase declined to rule out surgery, but said he expects Howard back this season.
GIANTS: New York safety and leading tackler Landon Collins is going to miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
The Giants said Wednesday that Collins has a partially torn labrum and will need surgery. The team had said earlier Collins would not play Sunday in Washington. REDSKINS: The injuries keep mounting for Washington, which put three more players on IR Wednesday to raise its season total to 17: starting cornerback Quinton Dunbar, receiver Trey Quinn and guard Jonathan Cooper.
In other moves, the Redskins (6-6) signed Josh Johnson to be their backup QB against the visiting Giants (4-8) on Sunday.
RAMS: LA running back Malcolm Brown will miss the rest of the season with a collarbone injury.
PANTHERS: Carolina QB Cam Newton said he’ll be ready to play against the Browns on Sunday despite lingering pain in his throwing shoulder.
But coach Ron Rivera wasn’t quite as certain Wednesday, leaving the door open: “We’ll see. We’re not even to Friday.”
JETS: Rookie QB Sam Darnold was a full participant at practice, putting him on track to start for New York at Buffalo on Sunday.
Darnold has missed the past three games with a strained right foot.
CARDINALS: Arizona’s injury situation got worse Wednesday when starting left tackle D.J. Humphries was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
The move leaves rookie center Mason Cole as the only remaining member of the offensive line that began the season in the starting lineup.
BENGALS: Cincinnati wide receiver A.J. Green will be sidelined for the remainder of the season with an injured toe.