2025 NFL Preseason: Tennessee Titans face injury setbacks while preparing for Atlanta Falcons joint drills

As the 2025 NFL preseason gets into full swing, the Tennessee Titans are carrying a combination of hope and challenges with the team going into its joint practices with the Atlanta Falcons.

Such practices will include energy training, aimed at developing skills and avoiding the hazards of full games. Nevertheless, the depth of the team is being tested by the injuries to star players running back Tyjae Spears and linebacker Anfernee Orji, despite the fact that the recovering veterans are a source of hope.

Tennessee Titans gain veteran boost as Quandre Diggs prepares to return to team drills in 2025

The Tennessee Titans have some encouraging news as a number of veterans are aiming to return during their Atlanta trip.

Safety Quandre Diggs, a free-agent acquisition from the offseason, is prepared to join team drills for the first time in 2025.After dealing with a minor calf strain early in camp, Diggs is back in action, bringing much-needed veteran presence to a secondary that faced challenges last season.Head coach Brian Callahan talked about this during his media session on August 10, 2025, at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, sharing with reporters, "Quandre is expected to make his return to team drills, and we're optimistic about Blake Hance and Lloyd Cushenberry joining him at some point this week.".

Offensive lineman Blake Hance is currently managing a shoulder problem from organized team activities, which could enhance the depth of the line. Even more importantly, the possible return of center Lloyd Cushenberry is beneficial.Cushenberry, who is a crucial starter and signed a four-year contract in 2024, suffered an Achilles tear in Week 8 of last season while playing against the Detroit Lions. An Achilles tear is a serious injury that affects the tendon linking the calf to the heel, typically resulting from quick, explosive actions like pushing off during blocks.

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears sidelined by ankle sprain ahead of joint practices

The injury report of the Tennessee Titans is souring their preps and they have a number of players ruled out in the practices of Falcons. Running back Tyjae Spears is battling ankle sprain, which is a common occurrence in the preseason resulting in multiple twists when making cuts or being tackled.The ankle injury usually contributes to a swelling and the feeling of instability, which makes the athlete take a break and recover within 1-4 weeks depending on the extent of the injury, and when not handled properly it may cause some long-term problems.

Spears' problem came to light during individual drills on August 7, 2025, according to practice reports from the team's official site.Defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, who was a second-round pick in 2024, is on the mend after having a tonsillectomy that's the surgical removal of tonsils due to infection or swelling. Although it's not related to football, it leads to throat pain and fatigue, usually needing about 7-10 days off.Sweat had the surgery on August 5, 2025, as mentioned by Tennessee Titans insider Paul Kuharsky on his podcast ‘Outkick the Coverage’.Rookie safety Kevin Winston Jr. is sidelined due to knee soreness while he’s recovering from ACL surgery. He suffered an ACL tear during a game against Ohio State in November 2024 while playing for Penn State, as noted in reports from the Big Ten Network.

ACL tears happen when the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee is damaged, often from awkward landings or pivoting, which can cause instability and usually requires surgery.

The recovery process can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months, and if rehab isn’t done properly, there’s a chance of developing arthritis or losing some agility.

Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed's Ongoing Recovery

L’Jarius Sneed is still on the PUP list because of a persistent quad strain he suffered during minicamp. Sneed, a top-notch defender with 10 interceptions throughout his career, is improving but isn't ready to hit the drills just yet.Quad strains are nothing but muscle tears in the thigh, usually caused due to sprinting and they are painful and hinder movement.

The healing period is between 2-6 weeks, yet in the case of Sneed, it is taking a little longer as precaution measures are taken.Callahan reported on August 10, 2025, saying, "L’Jarius is making progress but will stay on PUP for now."Also Read: 2025 NFL Preseason News Roundup: Jake Ferguson returns for Dallas Cowboys, Shedeur Sanders confronts critic and moreThese injuries really show how tricky preseason prep can be. With Spears sidelined, the running back duties now fall to Tony Pollard and rookie Hassan Haskins, putting the depth of a run-heavy offense to the test. The missing defensive players, especially Orji and Sweat, might reveal some weaknesses during joint drills against Atlanta's Bijan Robinson and Kirk Cousins.