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The Latest on Titans CB Alontae Taylor After Absence vs. Colts
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- The Latest on Titans CB Alontae Taylor After Absence vs. Colts
(Steve Roberts-Imagn Images)
The Tennessee Titans only had two players marked out for the Indianapolis Colts game.
At least, that's how it looked at first.
Kevin Winston Jr. was out with a quad injury he sustained against the Houston Texans. Jordan Elliott wasn't playing due to a personal issue. Tyjae Spears and Joshua Williams were questionable but were both cleared to play.
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Spears has had a knee issue this season that has bothered him but hasn't kept him off the field. Williams has missed the regular season so far after sustaining a pectoral injury in the preseason.
Williams had to be activated from the PUP list to play on Sunday.
Amani Hooker returned from his concussion and played a great game. He had one interception on the Colts' opening drive and nearly had a second, but he dropped one in the second half.
One key player wasn't on the injury report and didn't play on Sunday. Alontae Taylor was inactive for the contest, and Robert Saleh said that he was a healthy scratch.
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At Monday's Zoom call , Saleh was asked about Taylor's status.
The cornerback was one of the Titans' most expensive free-agent acquisitions this offseason. He's currently on a three-year, $58 million contract.
Saleh was asked whether Taylor would be week-to-week. The head coach said the staff would meet and make a decision that would best benefit the team.
"As it pertains to Alontae, we'll discuss it as a staff and make a decision that's best for the team moving forward," Saleh said.
The good news is that the Titans' defense played well in Taylor's absence. This was especially true for the secondary.
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Hooker had his interception in the first half, and then Cor'Dale Flott had one in the second half. The Titans sacked Daniel Jones six times in the win.
Jonathan Taylor made a few plays but was still held to under 100 rushing yards. He burned the Titans a few times, catching passes out of the backfield. Overall, the team limited his impact.
This is still a concern going forward. Taylor was the third-highest free-agent addition the Titans made. Wan'Dale Robinson ($80 million) and John Franklin-Myers ($63 million) were paid more.
Saleh has kept things close to the vest, but we'll see how long that will be the case. Whether this is a disciplinary issue or not, the fanbase will demand answers about why Taylor wasn't in the lineup.
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The Titans still have to face the Colts one more time and the Jacksonville Jaguars twice. Tennessee has another meeting with Houston on the road as well.
We'll see what the head coach reveals about Taylor's situation as we get closer to Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns.
The Titans and Browns meet at Nissan Stadium on Sunday at noon CT on CBS.
