After being designated to return from the physically unable to perform list and returning to practice on Wednesday, it appeared there was at least a chance that Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley would play in 2023.
However, head coach Mike Vrabel shot down that notion on Friday when he revealed that Farley, who is still recovering from back surgery that ended his 2022 campaign early, would not get into a game this season.
“He won’t play this year,” Vrabel said, per Jim Wyatt. “But it’s good to get him out there, and continue to do the individual, to see some football, and then we’ll see where things go from there. It’s a testament to him to work hard to get back.”
The first sign Farley was a long shot to play came in the videos of him taking part in practice. It was abundantly clear that the 2021 first-round pick wasn’t moving at his best.
Then, on Thursday, Farley sounded like someone who wasn’t close.
“It’s a blessing to be out there but it’s still real difficult for me to run,” Farley said, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “I’ve got a lot going on with this nerve but I think I wanted to get out there to progress and kind of force my body to adapt and continue to get better.”
“Being out there is an extreme blessing and I’m thankful and grateful for it,” he added. “But it is a frustrating process being out there. I feel like (I have) a clipped wing. A bird can’t fly with a clipped wing.”
With Farley set to sit out the final three games, the Virginia Tech product has now played in just 12 contests over the first three years of his career. It goes without saying that 2024, which is the final year of his rookie deal with Tennessee, will be a huge year for him.
