Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh announced that third-year defensive end Jaylen Harrell and rookie tight end Jaren Kanak will both be put on season-ending injured reserve with injuries sustained in the preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 13. Harrell, who logged 4.5 sacks for the Titans as a rotational outside linebacker in 2025, tore his ACL and Kanak, the Titans' seventh-round pick in 2026, tore his pectoral muscle. Without Harrell, the Titans' depth pieces off the defensive edge don't have too much name recognition. Veteran free agent adds Malik Herring and Earnest Brown IV are possibilities to fill the spot Harrell leaves behind. The Titans did fill the room with new blood atop the depth chart, though, with Jermaine Johnson II, Jacob Martin and first-round pick Keldric Faulk joining former second-round pick Oluwafemi Oladejo as the heart of the rotation.
Kanak had been getting play as a rotational tight end with the second- and third-team offenses and also played multiple positions in the backfield like fullback and H-back. Most of Kanak's use was expected to be on special teams. Without Kanak, the Titans' options at tight end behind starters Gunnar Helm and Daniel Bellinger include David Martin-Robinson, Kylen Granson and Joel Wilson. In other injury news, defensive linemen John Franklin-Myers and Jackie Marshall returned to practice on Aug. 15 for individual drills after missing time. Neither participated in team activities. 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. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans coach Robert Saleh rules 2 players out for season, including Jaren Kanak