Undefeated Titans getting healthy after COVID-19 outbreak
The undefeated Titans are healing up from the NFL’s first COVID-19 outbreak
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The undefeated Titans are healing up from the NFL’s first COVID-19 outbreak.
Not only does Tennessee have defensive lineman DaQuan Jones back for his second straight game after having been on the reserve/COVID-19 list, defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, wide receiver Adam Humphries and cornerback Kristian Fulton also are back.
Wide receiver Cameron Batson, a member of the practice squad who had been on that reserve list, also is active after being promoted for this game.
Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield will have his full complement of wide receivers of the team’s visit to Pittsburgh. Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is active after twice testing negative for the coronavirus. Starting guard Wyatt Teller is out, with former Steelers offensive lineman Chris Hubbard starting in Teller’s place.
Cleveland safeties Ronnie Harrison (concussion) and Karl Joseph (hamstring) are also out. Sheldrick Redwine, who had a fourth-quarter pick against Indianapolis last week, will start alongside Andrew Sendejo.
The unbeaten Steelers will be without Pro Bowl guard David DeCastro and wide receiver Diontae Johnson. DeCastro will miss his third game of the season after sustaining an abdominal injury last week against Philadelphia. DeCastro sat out Weeks 1 and 2 with a knee injury.
Rookie Kevin Dotson will start in place of DeCastro. Johnson, Pittsburgh’s second-leading receiver, is out because of a back injury suffered on a punt return last week.
Wide receiver Julio Jones is active for Atlanta after playing only one half of the previous three games because of a hamstring injury. Defensive end Takk McKinley is out with a groin injury that has kept him sidelined for all but five snaps of the previous three games.
Minnesota’s Alexander Mattison gets his first career start at running back for Dalvin Cook, who hurt his groin last week. Right guard Dru Samia’s absence to a wrist injury also paves the way for rookie Ezra Cleveland to make his debut in the lineup.
Jacksonville Jaguars receiver DJ Chark is active and in the starting lineup against Detroit. Chark (ankle) had been listed as questionable, but he tested his ankle during pre-game warmups and felt good enough to play.
Jacksonville will be without defensive end Josh Allen (knee) for the second straight game. Defensive tackle Abry Jones (ankle/hamstring) also is inactive.
Center Frank Ragnow, listed as questionable with a groin injury, is active for the Lions.
Indianapolis Pro Bowl linebacker Darius Leonard will miss his second straight game with an injured groin. He said Thursday he was hopeful of playing Sunday, but the Colts listed him as doubtful following Friday’s practice.
Former Purdue linebacker Markus Bailey was one of five players deactivated by the Bengals. Carl Lawson is expected to replace Sam Hubbard at defensive end after Hubbard (elbow) went on injured reserve. Cincinnati also will be missing starting defensive tackle D.J. Reader, who suffered a season-ending quad injury. Christian Covington moved into Reader’s spot on the depth chart.
The Panthers will be without versatile No. 3 wide receiver Curtis Samuel for Sunday’s game against the Bears. Samuel was listed as questionable on Friday with a knee injury, but the Panthers elected to keep him out of the game.
Also, P.J. Walker replaces Will Grier as Carolina’s No. 2 quarterback this week as Grier is inactive. For the Bears, interior defensive linemen Daniel McCullers and John Jenkins are active.
The Eagles are down to one starting offensive lineman with right tackle Lane Johnson inactive because of an ankle injury and right guard Matt Pryor on the COVID-19 list. Only center Jason Kelce remains from Philadelphia’s original starting five.
The Patriots and Broncos are scheduled to finally play their twice-postponed game following an outbreak of coronavirus cases that affected players on both teams.
New England quarterback Cam Newton and Stephon Gilmore are both expected to be in the lineup after testing positive with COVID-19 earlier this month.
But the Patriots won’t have offensive lineman Shaq Mason or defensive lineman Derek Rivers after both were added to the reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday, as was running back Sony Michel, who was already on injured reserve with a leg injury. Denver running backs coach Curtis Modkins also tested positive and didn't make the trip to New England.
The Broncos will be also without multiple key players. Melvin Gordon is inactive after he was cited by Denver police for driving under the influence and speeding last week. Gordon is coming off a season-high 107 rushing yards and two TDs in Week 4.
Denver also won’t have tight end Noah Fant (ankle) or receiver K.J. Hamler (hamstring). Starting linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu (quadriceps) is also out.
Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins who lost his starting job more than a week ago and missed practice this week because of a stomach illness, was inactive for Sunday’s game against the Giants.
The Giants got some good news as DT Dexter Lawrence (knee) and WR Darius Slayton (foot) were active. They had been listed as questionable on Friday. Linebacker David Mayo, who missed the first five games of the season following knee surgery, was active. He was taken off injured reserve on Friday. Mayo started 13 games last season.
___
HOUSTON AT TENNESSEE
Texans: WR Keke Coutee, CB Cornell Armstrong, RB Buddy Howell, ILB Peter Kalambayi, OT Charlie Heck, TE Jordan Akins.
Titans: OL Daniel Munyer, OL Isaiah Wilson, DB Chris Jackson, DL Matt Dickerson and LB Will Compton.
___
CLEVELAND AT PITTSBURGH
Browns: S Ronnie Harrison Jr., S Karl Joseph, LB Jacob Phillips, G Wyatt Teller, DE Joe Jackson, DE Vincent Taylor.
Steelers: QB Josh Dobbs, WR Diontae Johnson, ILB Ulysses Gilbert, G David DeCastro, DL Carlos Davis, TE Zach Gentry.
___
DETROIT AT JACKSONVILLE
Lions: QB David Blough, CB Desmond Trufant, LB Elijah Lee, OL Logan Stenberg, G Kenny Wiggins, WR Quintez Cephus.
Jaguars: DE Josh Allen, DT Abry Jones, CB Luq Barcoo, DT Daniel Ekuale, WR Dede Westbrook, QB Jake Luton.
___
CINCINNATI AT INDIANAPOLIS
Bengals: K Austin Siebert, WR Auden Tate, RB Trayveon Williams, LB Markus Bailey, G Keaton Sutherland.
Colts: QB Jacob Eason, WR Daurice Fountain, LB Darius Leonard, OT Chaz Green, TE Mo Alie-Cox, WR Dezmon Patmon, DE Ron’Dell Carter.
___
CHICAGO AT CAROLINA
Bears: CB Duke Shelley, S Deon Bush, LG Arlington Hambright, WR Riley Ridley, OLB Trevis Gipson.
Panthers: WR Curtis Samuel, QB Will Grier, CB Eli Apple, G Dennis Daley, DT Woodrow Hamilton.
___
BALTIMORE AT PHILADELPHIA
Ravens: QB Trace McSorley, WR Chris Moore, DB Anthony Levine, OL Trystan Colon-Castillo, OL Ben Bredeson, DE Derek Wolfe.
Eagles: RT Lane Johnson, WR DeSean Jackson, WR Alshon Jeffery, CB Avonte Maddox, S Marcus Epps, LB Duke Riley, QB Nate Sudfeld.
___
DENVER AT NEW ENGLAND
Broncos: QB Jeff Driskel, G Netane Muti, TE Noah Fan, RB Melvin Gordon, WR K.J. Hamler, LB Jeremiah Attaochu, DT McTelvin Agim.
Patriots: DL Carl Davis, DB Myles Bryant, RB J.J. Taylor, TE Dalton Keene, QB Brian Hoyer.
___
WASHINGTON AT NEW YORK GIANTS
Washington: QB Dwayne Haskins, LB Thomas Davis Sr., DE Nate Orchard, G Joshua Garnett, T David Sharpe, TE Marcus Baugh.
Giants: S Adrian Colbert, LB TJ Brunson, OT Jackson Barton, TE Eric Tomlinson, DE RJ McIntosh, OLB Lorenzo Carter.
___
ATLANTA AT MINNESOTA
Falcons: CB Jordan Miller, RB Qadree Ollison, S Jaylinn Hawkins, RT John Wetzel, DE Takk McKinley.
Vikings: RB Dalvin Cook, CB Kris Boyd, WR/KR K.J. Osborn, CB Holton Hill, RG Dru Samia.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL