The bye week comes at the perfect time for the Tennessee Titans, who enter it battered after their disappointing overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Already playing without starters Carnell Tate and Tommy Townsend, as well as top reserve Tyjae Spears, Tennessee watches multiple starters and key contributors leave for the Bengals, including starting offensive linemen Peter Skoronski and LC Latham. In addition to Latham and Skoronski, the Titans lost Marcus Harris, James Williams, and Anthony Hill Jr.

These losses left Tennessee thin along the offensive line and at linebacker in the waning seconds and overtime. Don’t believe it? This was the makeup of the line as Cam Ward was trying to drive for a tie or a win: Dan Moore, Garrett Dellinger, Austin Schlottman, Antonio Mafi, and James Hudson. Wow.

But one player not mentioned above is also battling a severe injury: John Franklin-Myers, and he is fighting through as he tries to add some veteran leadership to the defense.

Franklin-Myers has battled this back injury since early in the preseason, and it has clearly limited his production in the first half of the season. Now that Jeffery Simmons has been dealt to the Chicago Bears, Tennessee will need Franklin-Myers as close to full strength as possible heading into the second half of the season.

Unfortunately, fans will be in the dark for over a week, as head coach Robert Saleh stated that no updates will be given until they are required ahead of their matchup with the Jaguars.