There’s nothing quite as brutal as a Thursday night football game, and that’s bearing true for the Titans’ offensive line. While star receivers A.J. Brown (chest) and Julio Jones (hamstring) are both expected to play, there may be a serious disadvantage for them in the trenches.
Starting left tackle Taylor Lewan has been ruled out with a back injury, as has starting left guard Roger Saffold, who is on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
Initially, veteran guard/tackle Kendall Lamm was expected to replace Lewan, but he announced Thursday that he tested positive for COVID-19.
To put it lightly, this a major issue. Ryan Tannehill has been sacked a league-worst 41 times (tied with Joe Burrow) and is also tied for the league lead (along with Trevor Lawrence) with 18 turnovers.
He has six interceptions and three touchdowns this season when pressured, and is going against a 49ers group which has 12 sacks over the last three games, anchored by Nick Bosa, who has a league-leading 24 pressures over that stretch.
Rookie tackle Dillon Radunz, who protected Trey Lance in college, is next in line to start for Tennesee, with rotational guard Aaron Brewer expected to fill in at left guard.