Tennessee Titans right tackle JC Latham entered training camp on the PUP list with a pec injury. It is further complicating what was supposed to be a defining third season for the 2024 first-round pick.
The injury first surfaced back in May during OTAs, clearly raising the question of how far along he is in the recovery process. Latham is currently listed as day-to-day, with no specific return date given, though general manager Mike Borgonzi, head coach Robert Saleh and the rest of the Titans staff haven't sounded overly concerned. That's a good sign he could be activated in the near future.
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This season is significant for Latham, as he is entering his third season. The Titans will focus closely on where Latham is going more than where he's been when deciding whether to exercise or bypass his fifth-year option. The deadline for that is May of 2027. He graded as an average offensive tackle a season ago, while giving up eight sacks and 33 pressures, according to PFF.
Two new starters on the interior
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As for the offensive line this season, there are two new expected starters, which is exactly what the Titans would want after a disappointing season, in which Cam Ward was sacked 55 times. This was a league-high among all quarterbacks in the NFL, and that is the last thing the Titans would want, considering the Titans hope to build the team around their superstar quarterback long-term.
The three new pieces on the offensive line are Cordell Volson at offensive guard and Austin Schlottmann at center. While these two are expected to be the starters, there is an expectation that there could be a position battle, as the Titans drafted both Pat Coogan and Fernando Carmona. Both players were successful throughout college and could find themselves being successful for the Titans, but will need some time to get the hang of things, it seems.
The Titans have kept what many believe are the best parts of the offensive line with the team, including Peter Skoronski, whose fifth-year option the Titans exercised. The Titans did that with the hopes of being able to strike a long-term deal, which has yet to happen, but luckily there have been some "positive conversations" between the franchise and Skoronski's agents.
The expectations for this group are already set low, but with the new additions that the Titans have made, there is room to believe that some progress can be made if the line can remain healthy this season. Despite any success that the Titans have this season, it still remains likely that the team will make the offensive line a priority next offseason, as they continue to search for the best option for their quarterback and offense as a whole.
