Friday Injury Report: One Unable to Play for First Time

Adoreé Jackson and Delanie Walker among those ruled out for Sunday against Tampa Bay

Jim Brown/USA Today Sports

NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Titans will be without one significant starter on each side of the ball Sunday, when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium.

Coach Mike Vrabel ruled out tight end Delanie Walker and cornerback Adoreé Jackson on Friday. Also ruled out were linebacker Sharif Finch and special teamer Chris Milton.

Jackson (pictured), a first-round pick (18 overall) in 2017, has never missed a game in his NFL career. He has started 35 of the 39 games in which he has played. He has averaged nearly four tackles per game, has intercepted two passes and forced three fumbles. He also has been – at times – Tennessee’s primary punt and kickoff return man. This season he has lost some playing time to Logan Ryan.

With Jackson out, LeShaun Sims will have a bigger role with the defense. The 2016 fifth-round selection got 17 snaps with the defense last Sunday after Jackson was injured.

“That’s why you carry four and five corners,” Vrabel said Friday. “Because if somebody goes down, the next guy has got to step in there.”

Walker has an ankle injury, which limited him to five plays last Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. He said it is a reemergent issue related to the fracture he sustained in 2018 opener and caused him to miss the remainder of the season

“I’m just trying to make sure I get that back to normal,” Walker said Friday. “… I knew it was going to come at one point where either I was going to be really sore or I would take some hits on it. … I knew at one point I would probably get some type of bruise or some soreness in the ankle.”

Jonnu Smith and Anthony Firkser will be bigger factors in the offense with Walker sidelined. Together, Smith and Firkser have combined for 11 catches for 213 yards. Walker has 21 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

The complete Titans-Buccaneers injury report for Friday:

TENNESSEE

Sunday status

Out: Sharif Finch, OLB (shoulder); Adoreé Jackson, CB (foot); Chris Milton, CB (calf); and Delanie Walker, TE (ankle).

Questionable: Kamalei Correa, OLB (knee) – limited participation.

Others

Full participation: Jayon Brown, ILB (groin); Jurrell Casey, DT (shoulder); Jack Conklin, T (quad); Corey Davis, WR (illness); Nate Davis, G (rib); Rashaan Evans, ILB (shoulder) and Wesley Woodyard, ILB (ankle).

TAMPA BAY

Sunday status

Out: Alex Cappa, G (forearm); Jack Cichy, ILB (elbow); and O.J. Howard, TE (hamstring).

Questionable: Demar Dotson, T (hamstring).

Others

Full participation: Breshad Perriman, WR (hamstring).

Did not practice: Ndamukong Suh, DT (not injury related).