Justin Herbert, Chargers not taking Titans lightly despite record

Tennessee Titans interim coach Mike McCoy has a 1-7 team with a lengthy injury list and an even lengthier list of issues when it comes to playing football.

But he's not looking for excuses heading into Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Nashville, Tenn.

"There's no excuses in this business," McCoy said. "You're going to go out there and play and execute at a high level on Sunday and there's a certain standard you play with and you expect those players to go out there and do their job."

That job has been a tough one for Tennessee since late in the 2022 season, when it blew a big lead and lost the AFC South crown to the Jacksonville Jaguars. It's well on its way to a fourth straight losing season and could own a second consecutive No. 1 overall pick if it keeps losing.

Last week's 38-14 loss at Indianapolis was the Titans' third straight -- none of them particularly close. Their offense can't consistently sustain drives, their defense can't get the opponent off the field with any regularity and their special teams haven't been able to provide game-turning plays.

A group of key starters, including the team's best player, defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, missed practice on Wednesday. Simmons (hamstring) sat out last week, as did outside linebacker Arden Key (quad) and wide receiver Calvin Ridley (hamstring).

Injuries and the trade of Roger McCreary to the Los Angeles Rams have thinned Tennessee's cornerback depth greatly. The Titans picked up two cornerbacks on Tuesday and one of them, former Green Bay practice squad member Micah Robinson, could get snaps on Sunday. His speed -- clocked at 4.38 in the 40-yard dash -- makes him attractive to a team needing lots of help on the back end.

"I will say that is one of my superpowers -- my speed and my quickness," Robinson said after practice Wednesday.

Los Angeles (5-3) has its own injury issues coming off a 37-10 rout of the Minnesota Vikings on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 8. Even with the extra time between games, the Chargers might be without some key players, as cornerback Tarheeb Still (knee) and guard Mekhi Becton (knee) didn't practice on Wednesday.

Coach Jim Harbaugh said Still isn't likely to play this week, although Becton has a better chance of suiting up. Safety Derwin James Jr. (ankle) was limited in practice, as was receiver Ladd McConkey (calf), though both are expected to play on Sunday.

If an offensive line that's allowed the eighth-most sacks in the NFL (23) can keep Justin Herbert upright, he could enjoy a big day against a short-handed Titans secondary. Herbert threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns against Minnesota.

Herbert said the mini bye week came at the right time, but that he isn't underestimating Tennessee.

"I think a lot of guys got their bodies back over the weekend," he said. "I think they're much better than their record indicates. They've got some talented guys and some veteran guys who have had a lot of success in this league."

Los Angeles owns a 30-19-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 27-17 win last year at home. This is the first of four straight home games for the Titans.

--Field Level Media