Titans Lose Two Players to Season-Ending Injuries

In the preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers, the Tennessee Titans suffered a double blow when rookie tight end Jaren Kanak and third-year defensive end Jaylen Harrell were each diagnosed with injuries that will end their 2026 campaigns. Both players were placed on season-ending injured reserve, according to the team’s head coach, Robert Saleh, who announced the moves to reporters.

Newsweek

Kanak entered the league as a seventh-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft after transitioning from linebacker to tight end at Oklahoma, where he posted 44 receptions for 533 yards in his final season. Harrell was a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Michigan; he recorded 13 tackles as a rookie, then improved to 25 tackles, 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble in the 2025 season. In college, Harrell amassed 78 tackles, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles and three passes defensed from 2020-23 while helping the Wolverines win a national championship.

NewsweekThe Tennessean

Harrell’s ACL tear removes a rotational edge-rusher who contributed 4.5 sacks last year. The Titans’ defensive line already features new talent such as Jermaine Johnson II, Jacob Martin and first-round pick Keldric Faulk, but the team may look to veteran free-agents Malik Herring or Earnest Brown IV to fill the void.

The Tennessean

Kanak’s pectoral injury eliminates a versatile tight-end who saw action on special teams and in multiple backfield roles. Behind starters Gunnar Helm and Daniel Bellinger, the Titans could turn to David Martin-Robinson, Kylen Granson or Joel Wilson for depth.

The Tennessean

Coach Saleh confirmed the injuries and the roster moves, noting that the team will rely on its recent additions and existing depth to mitigate the losses. The Titans also reported that defensive linemen John Franklin-Myers and Jackie Marshall returned to individual drills after missing time, indicating ongoing efforts to stabilize the line despite the setbacks.

The Tennessean