Titans place ailing WR Brown on injured reserve

The Tennessee Titans placed wide receiver A.J. Brown on injured reserve Saturday ahead of their matchup Sunday with the New England Patriots.

Brown suffered chest, rib and hand injuries during last week’s 22-13 loss to the Houston Texans. He played 40 offensive snaps and finished with five receptions for 48 yards on nine targets.

“Walking by faith as always. GOD makes no mistakes,” Brown posted on social media after the news broke that he is headed for IR.

Brown will now be out for the next three weeks. The earliest Brown will be able to return is when Tennessee faces the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 23 on Thursday night football.

Brown’s move to the IR adds to the list of absences against the Patriots that includes receiver Julio Jones, running backs Derrick Henry and Jeremy McNichols, linebackers David Long and Rashaan Evans, offensive lineman Nate Davis and defensive lineman Teair Tart.

In 10 games, Brown has 46 receptions for 615 yards and three touchdowns. He also missed the Week 4 loss to the New York Jets with a knee injury.

The Titans signed veteran free-agent receiver Golden Tate to their practice squad Tuesday. But they did not elevate him to the active roster after he practiced with the team Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Tennessee will likely turn to rookie Dez Fitzpatrick to start in place of Brown. The Titans used the COVID-19 elevation to make receiver Cody Hollister available to them for Sunday’s game against the Patriots.

Hollister joins Fitzpatrick, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Chester Rogers as the wide receivers who will be available for quarterback Ryan Tannehill on Sunday.

Source: www.espn.com