Titans place starting safety on IR

Amani Hooker's 2023 season has come to an end. Not long after being ruled out for Week 16, the Titans placed the veteran safety on injured reserve on Friday.

Hooker played every snap in Tennessee’s loss to Houston last week, but a knee injury has kept him out of practice over the past several days. As a result, he will be placed on IR, a move which requires at least a four-week absence. With Tennessee out of contention for the postseason, Hooker will not return to the field until 2024.

The news marks an unfortunate end for the 25-year-old, who has been a mainstay in the Titans’ secondary since 2021. He landed a three-year extension last September, a deal which has him on the books through 2025. Hooker was limited to just nine games in 2022, but he had managed to rebound from a health standpoint this past year. He also set new career high in tackles with 85 and tackles for loss with three.

The former fourth-rounder also had one interception, seven pass deflections and a forced fumble this season. That ball production will be difficult to replace for the Titans as they close out a disappointing campaign. In the absence of Hooker (who logged a 98% snap share on defense), the team will likely move forward with Elijah Molden and Terrell Edmunds at the safety spot. The former made his return from injured reserve in Week 15, while the latter has primarily been used on special teams since arriving in a trade with the Eagles.

To fill Hooker’s roster spot, the Titans signed defensive lineman Marlon Davidson from the practice squad. Davidson had been a gameday elevation twice this season, meaning he would have needed to join the 53-man roster after the team’s next game if they intended to continue giving him playing time. Now, the former second-rounder will get further looks as he attempts to play his way into a deal for 2024.