Titans mostly healthy late in year
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans wide receiver Rishard Matthews is questionable for Sunday’s AFC South game in Indianapolis after not practicing Friday. He’s the only player listed on the team’s injury report this week.
Matthews is second on the Titans with 41 catches and has a team-best 626 receiving yards this season. He was placed on the injury report Thursday after being limited by a hamstring injury, and coach Mike Mularkey said Matthews’ playing status could be a game-time decision.
“I’ll just see how it goes,” Matthews said. “I feel good, though, and I think I’ll be fine.”
Mularkey said the Titans just wanted to give Matthews a day to rest his hamstring and will know more today. As insurance, veteran wide receiver Harry Douglas began practicing this week after being placed on injured reserve with an injured knee the day after the initial 53-man roster was set in early September. Douglas could be activated from IR anytime because the team opened his 21-day evaluation period Monday.
As of Friday afternoon, Matthews’ injury was the only real health concern for the Titans (6-4) as they prepared for the Colts (3-7). That’s quite an achievement this late in the season, though Tennessee did have the benefit of extra time off since its most recent game, a 40-17 loss at Pittsburgh on Thursday, Nov. 16. And it hasn’t been long since their open date (Oct. 29).
Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota missed one game with a hamstring injury, and he recently had minor shoulder and ankle problems. Starting running back DeMarco Murray has not missed time, but he has dealt with a hamstring injury since training camp. Tight end Delanie Walker was bothered by a hamstring injury and a bone bruise in his ankle but leads the team with 49 catches this year.
On Wednesday, before Matthews’ hamstring tightened up, Mularkey said having an empty injury report might be a first for him. The 56-year-old is a veteran NFL coach and in his third season leading the Titans.
“I’d say that’s a rarity, but I give the players a lot of credit for putting us in that position — and our training staff and our strength staff,” Mularkey said. “A lot of work goes in to keeping these guys healthy, but the players have to spend some time on their own to put themselves in this position.”
While players don’t like the short turnaround going into Thursday games, Walker said the extra time that comes after helped him a lot.
“You’ve got two days after that to be off and get treatment, and that’s basically what I did,” Walker said. “I think it was some time that we needed, especially with it being a long season.”