Yardbarker
x
Titans T Chris Hubbard out for season
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Chris Hubbard (66) Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

On pace for their worst season in eight years, the Titans continue to navigate injuries along their offensive line. For the second time this month, the team received news one of its starting tackles will be out for the season’s remainder.

Chris Hubbard sustained a biceps injury that is expected to shelve him for the rest of the year, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. This news follows Nicholas Petit-Frere‘s injury, a shoulder issue that led the Titans to place him on IR. Petit-Frere, who had moved from right to left tackle just before his injury, is not expected back this season

The Titans revamped their O-line this offseason. Cornerstones Taylor Lewan and Ben Jones received their walking papers in an early-offseason salary purge, and four-year right guard Nate Davis signed with the Bears. Petit-Frere’s second season involved only 117 snaps. A six-game gambling suspension — one ultimately reduced to four once the NFL changed its betting policy in-season — sidelined the returning right tackle, leading to the Hubbard signing.

Hubbard, 32, did not sign with the Titans until training camp. A summer workout led to the ex-Browns and Steelers blocker becoming the Titans’ Petit-Frere fill-in, but the Titans did not bench Hubbard once their RT regular saw his suspension shortened. Instead, Tennessee slid Petit-Frere to left tackle to replace a struggling Andre Dillard. Hubbard, meanwhile, made nine starts — his most in a season since 2019.

Following a stint replacing Marcus Gilbert as Pittsburgh’s right tackle, Hubbard fetched a nice payday from Cleveland in 2018. Hubbard did not end up becoming a long-term Browns solution at right tackle, but the team kept the former UDFA around for five seasons. The UAB product made 35 Browns starts and eventually settled in as a backup in 2020, when the team handed Jack Conklin a three-year, $42M deal. Arm trouble has knocked out Hubbard for an extended stretch previously; he suffered a triceps injury in October 2021.

Seventh-round rookie Jaelyn Duncan replaced Hubbard against the Jaguars. The Titans initially rostered Jamarco Jones as a right tackle option, but the team released the veteran during camp. Tennessee also played without Dillard in Week 11, moving third-year blocker Dillon Radunz into the lineup on the left side. While Will Levis‘ tackle situation leaves much to be desired, Tennessee’s rookie starter has first-stringers present at each of the interior O-line spots.

This article first appeared on Pro Football Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.