Few will get nostalgic for the Mike Mularkey era, but I don't recall a lot of uncertainty with the health status of players. Now we've got two to worry about, and they're two of the main components of the passing game. And they affect healthy players, too.
Rishard Matthews was the team's top wide receiver a year ago, and he's been on the PUP list all preseason with an undisclosed injury. We finally got some news yesterday, though, with the information that he was spotted running routes in practice, and is close to returning to the field. Another story revealed the mystery injury was a torn meniscus.
The Titans must believe Matthews is going to be ready soon, having recently signed him to a one-year extension for the 2019 season. Not a deal you make if you think he might be sidelined much longer, and Mike Vrabel says, "It is good to see him working, and kind of being excited and getting close to coming back and rejoining the team off of PUP.”
In our latest rankings, assembled primarily before these stories broke, Corey Davis is highest, Taywan Taylor 2nd, and Matthews 3rd. I'm not sure yet how much they'll change come Monday. But Taylor seems likeliest to be affected by a healthy, productive Matthews, once we get that player. Maybe they bring Matthews along slowly (likely), but maybe he's fully healthy a couple of weeks into the season and starts getting more snaps. Taylor had a nice second exhibition game, but looks a little riskier than he would if Matthews didn't seem to be near to returning.
Then there's Delanie Walker, who limped out of practice a little over a week ago with a toe injury. The Titans are giving us zero indication whether he'll miss a day, a week or a month. But I've got three drafts between now and next Thursday, and I for one can't see myself selecting Walker given the uncertainty. He'll be selected before I'll take him at least until I get some word that he's not dealing with a significant issue. Walker slipped from around 6th to 10th in the standard rankings last week; probably will wind up on non-Index teams in most leagues.
Walker is an athletic guy, and healthy feet are kind of important to his production. A year ago among the 41 tight ends to catch at least 20 passes, only five had more big, downfield plays than he did; receptions of 20-plus yards. Less likely if he's hobbling around out there.
| TIGHT END RECEIVING, 2017, 20-YARD CATCHES | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | 20+ |
| Travis Kelce, K.C. | 83 | 1038 | 12.5 | 8 | 19 |
| Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 69 | 1084 | 15.7 | 8 | 18 |
| Vernon Davis, Wash. | 43 | 648 | 15.1 | 3 | 11 |
| Evan Engram, NYG | 64 | 722 | 11.3 | 6 | 11 |
| Jared Cook, Oak. | 54 | 688 | 12.7 | 2 | 10 |
| Delanie Walker, Tenn. | 74 | 807 | 10.9 | 3 | 9 |
| O.J. Howard, T.B. | 26 | 432 | 16.6 | 6 | 9 |
| Jimmy Graham, Sea. | 57 | 520 | 9.1 | 10 | 8 |
| Hunter Henry, LAC | 45 | 579 | 12.9 | 4 | 8 |
| George Kittle, S.F. | 43 | 515 | 12.0 | 2 | 8 |
| David Njoku, Clev. | 32 | 386 | 12.1 | 4 | 8 |
| Nick O'Leary, Buff. | 22 | 322 | 14.6 | 2 | 7 |
| Coby Fleener, N.O. | 22 | 295 | 13.4 | 2 | 7 |
| Zach Ertz, Phil. | 74 | 824 | 11.1 | 8 | 7 |
| Charles Clay, Buff. | 49 | 558 | 11.4 | 2 | 7 |
| Seth DeValve, Clev. | 33 | 395 | 12.0 | 1 | 7 |
| Ed Dickson, Car. | 30 | 437 | 14.6 | 1 | 7 |
| Garrett Celek, S.F. | 21 | 336 | 16.0 | 4 | 6 |
| Eric Ebron, Det. | 53 | 574 | 10.8 | 4 | 6 |
| Benjamin Watson, Balt. | 61 | 522 | 8.6 | 4 | 5 |
| Austin Hooper, Atl. | 49 | 526 | 10.7 | 3 | 5 |
| Cameron Brate, T.B. | 48 | 591 | 12.3 | 6 | 5 |
| Stephen Anderson, Hou. | 25 | 342 | 13.7 | 1 | 5 |
| Tyler Higbee, LAR | 25 | 295 | 11.8 | 1 | 5 |
| Marcedes Lewis, Jac. | 24 | 318 | 13.3 | 5 | 5 |
| Jack Doyle, Ind. | 80 | 690 | 8.6 | 4 | 4 |
| Kyle Rudolph, Minn. | 57 | 532 | 9.3 | 8 | 4 |
| Tyler Kroft, Cin. | 42 | 404 | 9.6 | 7 | 4 |
| Julius Thomas, Mia. | 41 | 388 | 9.5 | 3 | 4 |
| Martellus Bennett, GB-NE | 30 | 286 | 9.5 | 0 | 4 |
| Zach Miller, Chi. | 20 | 236 | 11.8 | 2 | 4 |
| Jason Witten, Dall. | 63 | 560 | 8.9 | 5 | 3 |
| Jermaine Gresham, Ariz. | 33 | 322 | 9.8 | 2 | 3 |
| Antonio Gates, LAC | 30 | 316 | 10.5 | 3 | 3 |
| A.J. Derby, 2 tms | 21 | 244 | 11.6 | 2 | 3 |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NYJ | 50 | 357 | 7.1 | 3 | 2 |
| Trey Burton, Phil. | 23 | 248 | 10.8 | 5 | 2 |
| Jesse James, Pitt. | 43 | 372 | 8.7 | 3 | 1 |
| Jordan Reed, Wash. | 27 | 211 | 7.8 | 2 | 1 |
| Rhett Ellison, NYG | 24 | 235 | 9.8 | 2 | 1 |
| Nick Boyle, Balt. | 28 | 203 | 7.3 | 0 | 0 |
With any luck, we'll get a little more clarity on the two in the next few days -- see them on the practice field doing some things, for example. If I were drafting tonight, though, either would have to fall pretty far for me to select them.
--Andy Richardson