With Tennessee Titans inside linebacker Jayon Brown out for the season with an elbow injury, the team will need one of its reserve players to step up big time in his absence.
Of course, the first name that comes to mind is 2019 sixth-round pick, inside linebacker David Long, who flashed near the end of last season when called into action due to injury.
The only problem is that Long is currently on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, but Titans head coach Mike Vrabel did say on Friday that he’s ‘cautiously optimistic’ that the second-year pro will be activated in time for Sunday’s contest against the Indianapolis Colts.
Adding to that, Vrabel also said he told the West Virginia product that he will be a “large part” of Tennessee’s plans on defense moving forward.
Mike Vrabel said he’s cautiously optimistic that ILB David Long will be activated off COVID-19/reserve list and available for Sunday. Said he’s told Long that he’s a large part of the team’s plans moving forward. #Titans
— Erik Bacharach (@ErikBacharach) November 27, 2020
Should Long not suit up, the Titans could turn to inside linebacker Will Compton, who took the snaps after Brown exited last week.
Long has played just 20 snaps through eight games this season, but we did call on the Titans to give him more of an opportunity right before going on the COVID-19 list with inside linebacker Rashaan Evans struggling.
Long will have immense shoes to fill with Brown on the shelf, but if he can play at the same level he did in last year’s playoffs, the Titans will be better off than most teams would be in a similar situation.
