Titans head coach gives vote of confidence in L’Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie’s injury concerns ahead of Week 1 vs Bears

NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Titans will open their 2024 regular season with seven different defensive starters than a year ago. Corners L'Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie will be leaned on significantly when their new team heads up to Chicago in Week 1 to take on the Bears.

The only problem: Tennessee's new defense has not had many reps together as a unit.

Titans Trust In L'Jarius Sneed's Plan

The Titans traded for Sneed and gave him a four-year, $76.4 million dollar extension.

General manager Ran Carthon did so knowing full well that Sneed came with a knee condition that required a specific management program in order for him to sustain for a full NFL regular season. Awuzie signed a up for three years and $36 million to join Tennessee in free agency. A calf injury ahead of the team's training camp on July 25 kept him sidelined until last week.

Certainly not what you would plan on if you had a perfect world, but I know what those two guys are made of," coach Brian Callahan said on Monday. "I've seen them play. I've seen L'Jarius play really, really good football. He looks great now. I know what Chido(be) is capable of. So, I know what the pieces are capable of."

Callahan also added that Sneed will now return to a "pretty normal practice process" now that the regular season schedule has arrived and that he would participate in the week of work like any normal player would.

Titans Need Stability from Dennard Wilson's Defense

The Titans defense had an up-and-down year in its final iteration under former coach Mike Vrabel.

Tennessee finished 28th in defensive EPA per play (0.03) and had a 44.7% success rate (25th). The Titans did, however, allow only 20 passing touchdowns (9th) and 10 rushing touchdowns (7th) as a unit. Vrabel's last defense finished in 1st in the red zone last year.

Adding critical talent at every level of new coordinator Dennard Wilson's group under Callahan was an offseason priority to try and stabilize in 2024.

"There is going to be a part of playing together that we're going to have to grow as we go," Callahan added. "That's just a part of having as many new players as we have, and new coaches as we have. So, the process will be ongoing for us."

Tennessee returns to action at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 8. Watch /listen to Titans Radio's pregame coverage starting at 9am CT on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville.

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