The Tennessee Titans will be without their highest-paid offensive and defensive players for this weekend’s AFC South rivalry against the Indianapolis Colts, per interim coach Mike McCoy.
Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and wide receiver Calvin Ridley, both dealing with hamstring injuries, will not play when the Titans (1-6) visit the Colts (6-1) at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 26 (3:25 p.m. CT, CBS). Ridley has missed the better part of the last two games after injuring his hamstring in Week 6 against Las Vegas, while Simmons went out early in the Titans‘ Week 7 loss against New England.
Between Simmons and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who was placed on injured reserve with a quad injury earlier this week, the Titans will be without two of their four highest-paid defensive players.
No decision has been made for linebacker Arden Key. However, offensive lineman Blake Hance and wide receiver Blake Oliver have also been ruled out for the game from the offensive side.
Titans vs Colts injury updates: Who replaces Calvin Ridley, Jeffery Simmons on Titans depth chart?
With Ridley out, and with second-year receiver Bryce Oliver missing his sixth straight game and after veteran Tyler Lockett’s release earlier in the week, the Titans promoted receiver Mason Kinsey from the practice squad to the active roster. Kinsey joins rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike and veteran Van Jefferson as the receivers on the active roster. The Titans practice squad also features receivers James Proche II, Xavier Restrepo and Lance McCutcheon.
Simmons’ injury leaves the Titans with T’Vondre Sweat, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Shy Tuttle, C.J. Ravenell and James Lynch on the defensive line. Lynch has been in and out of practice in recent weeks with a shoulder injury.
Losing Simmons also takes some bite out of the Titans’ pass rush, which has improved in recent weeks despite the injuries to Key and rookie Oluwafemi Oladejo. Remaining edge defenders include Dre’Mont Jones, Jihad Ward, Jaylen Harrell and Ali Gaye.
The Colts beat the Titans 41-20 in the teams’ previous meeting in Nashville on Sept. 21.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at  nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.