Wednesday's Injury Report: Spotlight on a Proven Backup

Wesley Woodyard is the sort of luxury not every NFL team has.

A 12-year veteran who has played 170 NFL games and has started more than 100 of them is a backup inside linebacker for the Tennessee Titans this season. In that role, he can minimize the impact of an injury to a starter, such as he did Sunday at Denver when Jayon Brown was hurt on the defense’s first series. Woodyard stepped in and delivered a season-high eight tackles (Brown averaged 8.2 through the first five games) and notched his team’s only sack.

“I’ve talked about Wesley Woodyard and how we feel like he’s a starter at that position,” coach Mike Vrabel said Wednesday. “I know he rotated through, but it took him about a half a second to be in the game last week and make huge impacts.”

It might not take even that long this Sunday when the Titans meet the Los Angeles Chargers at Nissan Stadium. Woodyard (pictured) will get his first start of the season if Brown remains sidelined by the groin injury.

Brown was one of five Tennessee players who did not practice Wednesday and his status for the contest is uncertain. A fifth-round pick in 2017, he has yet to miss a game in his NFL career.

Others who did not practice were tackle Jack Conklin (ankle), outside linebacker Cameron Wake (hamstring), outside linebacker Sharif Finch (shoulder) and special teamer Chris Milton (calf). Wake has missed the last two games. Finch and Milton sat out Sunday at Denver.

“To have depth at every position that’s proven and that has played in this league, and can do well is critical,” Vrabel said.

The Titans certainly have it where they might need it this week.

The complete Titans-Chargers injury report for Wednesday:

TENNESSEE

Did not practice: Jayon Brown, LB (groin); Jack Conklin, T (ankle); Sharif Finch, OLB (shoulder); Chris Milton, CB (calf); and Cameron Wake, OLB (hamstring).

Limited practice: Jurrell Casey, DT (shoulder); Kenny Vaccaro, S (quad); and Delanie Walker, TE (knee).

Full participation: None.

LOS ANGELES

Did not practice: Nate Adderley, S (hamstring); Travis Benjamin, WR (quad); Melvin Ingram, DE (hamstring); Justin Jackson, RB (calf); Justin Jones, DT (shoulder); and Brandon Mebane, NT (knee).

Limited practice: Michael Badgley, K (groin); and Trent Scott, T (ankle).

Full participation: Andre Patton, WR (quad); and Denzel Perryman, LB (ankle).