Injured Cornerback Back at Practice

Josh Kalu had been on injured reserve since the start of the regular season; appeared in five games last year

Cornerback depth has not been an issue for the Tennessee Titans thus far in 2019.

Nonetheless, they’re getting a little bit of help in that regard.

Josh Kalu was cleared to participate in practice Wednesday. The second-year cornerback had been on injured reserve (return designation) since the start of the regular season. He is eligible to take part in workouts for up to three weeks before the team must activate him or decide to keep him on IR for the remainder of the season.

In a related move, cornerback Kareem Orr was re-signed to the practice squad Wednesday. He was released Monday.

“I’m excited,” Kalu said. “I’m very excited. It’s been about two months since I got to play football. So being out there with the guys is going to be fun.”

Kalu joined the Titans in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska. He spent the first 12 weeks of the regular season on the practice squad but was promoted to the active roster in December and appeared in the final five games. He made four tackles on special teams but did not see much action with the defense.

He played in three of this year’s four preseason games and registered five tackles.

Orr, an undrafted rookie out of Chattanooga, was promoted to active roster on Saturday and dressed for – but did not play in – Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which Adoreé Jackson missed with a foot injury. LeShaun Sims, the Titans’ fourth cornerback, played in Jackson’s place.

Tennessee’s top four cornerbacks are well-established with Jackson and Sims behind Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler, which means there is no rush to get Kalu back on the active roster.

“I just want to go out there and be 100 percent healthy, like I am, and know the calls,” Kalu said. “Not any dips or divots in this defense and play my role, know my role and do what I’m supposed to do.”