Going into the 2023 season, the Tennessee Titans had led the NFL in players used in each of the past two seasons thanks to a ridiculous amount of injuries, but the hope was that things would get better.
While the Titans did use less players than they had in each of the two seasons prior, they still saw 83 in total take the field in 2023, the most in the NFL, per Teresa M. Walker of the Associated Press.
In 2021, the Titans set the NFL record for most players used with 91, and then followed that up with 86 players used in 2022, the second-most in league history.
Baby steps, I guess.
Of course, the main culprit was injuries once again.
Per Spotrac, the Titans ended the season with 18 players on injured reserve, tied for the most in the NFL. And, Tennessee placed 20 players on the list throughout the campaign, tied for eighth-most.
Another reason for the high number was due to the fact that the Titans simply didn’t have a good roster, thus more players got an opportunity at playing time.
Only 12 Titans played in every game, and just three of those 12 started every contest, a list that includes running back Derrick Henry, center Aaron Brewer and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
The other nine Titans who played in every game: running back Tyjae Spears, wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Chris Moore, tight end Chig Okonkwo, outside linebackers Harold Landry and Arden Key, defensive lineman Denico Autry, long snapper Morgan Cox and kicker Nick Folk.
Three players started all 17 games for the #Titans in 2023: running back Derrick Henry, center Aaron Brewer and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) January 8, 2024
Blame goes all around for this issue. The training staff, the players themselves and the front office are all at fault.
But no matter who you blame it on, it goes without saying that this has to change.
