Tag: Elijah Molden

Why Titans giving Elijah Molden reps at safety is significant

If Elijah Molden can prove capable of playing safety, it would be a huge plus for the Titans.

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On Tuesday, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel revealed that the team has been giving cornerback Elijah Molden reps at safety this offseason.

Molden, who had a very good rookie campaign before seeing his sophomore season cut short due to injury, has played in the slot when healthy, but he was billed with the versatility to play safety as well coming out of college.

And it looks like Vrabel and the Titans are going to see if that’s the case.

This is significant for a few reasons, with the first being Molden will give himself a chance at more opportunities for playing time, which could be limited otherwise if the Titans deploy Roger McCreary in the slot.

On top of that, the Titans’ depth at the safety position is sorely lacking behind Amani Hooker and Kevin Byard, something that’s particularly a problem given Hooker’s inability to stay healthy the past two years.

Speaking of Byard: his status remains up in the air following his refusal to take a pay cut earlier this offseason. Adding to the drama of that, the veteran has not arrived at OTAs yet, which is a departure from years past.

While I believe Byard will ultimately be with the Titans for all of 2023, there remains at least a slim chance he’s not on this team when the season starts, or perhaps during it if Tennessee falls out of contention and decides to deal him at the trade deadline.

Even if he remains on the team all year, things aren’t looking good for Byard’s future in Nashville, and the same can be said for Hooker, who may become a cut candidate in 2024 if he has another injury-plagued campaign.

If Molden can prove he’s capable, he’d give himself another avenue to get on the field while also becoming a reliable depth piece at the position. Perhaps most importantly, he’d give Tennessee an insurance policy for Byard or Hooker should the team move on from either player sooner or later.

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Titans’ Mike Vrabel talks Kristian Fulton’s absence, Elijah Molden at safety, more

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel revealed CB Elijah Molden has been getting reps at safety this offseason.

The Tennessee Titans took part in organized team activities for the second straight day on Tuesday, but this time around the session was open to the media.

We have a full roundup of everything beat writers on the ground noted and recorded during Tuesday’s session. You can check that out right here.

One of the more notable things to come from Tuesday was the fact that Titans cornerback Kristian Fulton isn’t in attendance at OTAs yet. Of course, his presence is not mandatory, but you would assume Fulton would be in attendance in what is a make-or-break year for the oft-injured corner.

When asked if Fulton was in the building, Vrabel, who I can’t imagine is a fan of Fulton’s absence considering the circumstances, simply said “nope.”

Another interesting development is the fact that the Titans have been giving cornerback Elijah Molden reps at safety, something he spoke about after practice.

Vrabel also touched on that subject following Day 2. Here’s a look at what he had to say about that and more in his post-practice presser.

Titans almost out of IR returns after designating Lonnie Johnson

The Titans have used seven of eight return designations this season.

Every team in the NFL is allowed to designate up to eight players to return from injured reserve during the course of the season, a limit the Tennessee Titans are unsurprisingly approaching.

On Thursday, the Titans designated defensive back Lonnie Johnson to return from injured reserve, the second player to receive that designation this week after linebacker Zach Cunningham.

That brings the Titans up to seven, which means only one more player currently on injured reserve can return.

As far as players who are on injured reserve and were thought to have a chance to return, the biggest names are cornerback Elijah Molden, wide receiver Kyle Philips and linebacker David Long.

However, we found out via defensive coordinator Shane Bowen that Molden is done for 2022.

Assuming both players are eventually healthy enough to be designated to return, the choice has to be Long, who is eligible to return in Week 18.

Granted, the Titans can use all the help they can get at wide receiver, but Long’s impact on defense will be far greater than Philips’ on offense.

As the Titans approach the limit, it’s hard not to point out how the Titans used a return on former outside linebacker, Ola Adeniyi, who was activated on Dec. 3 before being cut nine days later.

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Titans place CB Elijah Molden on IR among four roster moves

The Titans have placed CB Elijah Molden on IR for the second time this season.

The Tennessee Titans announced a total of four roster moves on Wednesday, one of which included the placement of cornerback Elijah Molden on injured reserve.

Molden, who has been nagged by a groin injury since before the start of the season, has appeared in just two games this year after playing in 16 of 17 contests in 2021.

Normally, a second stint on injured reserve would end a player’s season, but a new rule for 2022 allows Molden to return again. However, he won’t be eligible until Week 18.

In a corresponding move, the Titans signed cornerback John Reid off the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad, a move that was reported on Tuesday.

Reid was a former fourth-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2020 and has played in 24 games (three starts) over two seasons with the Texans and Seattle Seahawks, tallying 25 tackles and three passes defensed.

Now, a look at all four of the moves the Titans made on Wednesday.

Titans injury updates: Simmons, Jones, Molden, Long, Bullock

Some Titans injury updates ahead of practice on Tuesday.

Another week, another laundry list of injury concerns for the Tennessee Titans as they prepare for a “Thursday Night Football” game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

On Monday, news broke that cornerback Caleb Farley had a herniated disk that will likely require surgery and end his season. Farley was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.

On top of the handful of players who were ruled out for Week 10, the Titans have new players to be concerned with, namely center Ben Jones, linebacker David Long, cornerback Elijah Molden and kicker Randy Bullock.

Bullock tweaked his calf in pre-game warm-ups on Sunday. Long (neck), Molden (groin) and Jones (concussion) suffered injuries during Sunday’s contest. With a short turnaround, all are up in the air.

The Titans released their first injury report on Monday, but it was an estimation so it’s hard to gauge where everyone is at.

On Tuesday, head coach Mike Vrabel and the players themselves provided updates on their respective situations, and it was mostly good news. Here’s the latest on Jeffery Simmons, Molden, Jones, Bullock and Long.

Titans activate Burks and Molden, place Cunningham on IR among 6 moves

The Titans made a total of six moves on Saturday, but did not elevate Logan Woodside, which is good news for Ryan Tannehill’s availability.

The Tennessee Titans are getting two very important players back ahead of their Week 10 game against the Denver Broncos, but are also losing another.

The team announced it has activated cornerback Elijah Molden and wide receiver Treylon Burks off injured reserve ahead of Sunday, while also placing linebacker Zach Cunningham and defensive back Josh Thompson on the list.

Molden’s return comes on the heels of safety Amani Hooker being ruled out once again and cornerback Kristian Fulton being questionable.

Molden is expected to return to his role as the team’s slot cornerback, a role Hooker played recently before getting hurt. However, what isn’t know is how much Molden will play in his 2022 debut.

As far as Burks is concerned, he adds an ability to create separation to a Titans receiving corps. that has struggled to do so this season.

Cunningham missed three games earlier this year with an elbow injury. He returned for two games but reinjured his elbow in Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Along with those moves, the Titans elevated two players from the practice squad, but neither one of them is quarterback Logan Woodside, which is a good sign for Ryan Tannehill’s Week 10 availability.

Now, a look at all six moves.

Titans’ Elijah Molden admits groin injury bothered him since 2021

Molden also talked about his Week 9 status.

The Tennessee Titans took another step closer to getting slot cornerback Elijah Molden back after designating him to return from injured reserve Wednesday.

The 2021 third-round pick missed the first seven games of the 2022 season due to a groin injury he suffered in training camp, but Molden says it’s an issue that has bothered him since last season.

“Really, it’s been my groin for a long time,” Molden admitted, per Terry McCormick of Titan Insider. “It’s something I was able to play through last year, and it just kind of stuck around. One time I would think it was fixed, and it would kind of come back and I’m just finally getting it settled down and taking care of it.”

If Molden was playing hurt, he didn’t show it. In fact, from Week 3 on, he was one of the best rookie cornerbacks in the NFL, and really, one of the better ones overall.

In Molden’s absence, the Titans have had a revolving door in the slot but appeared to have finally figured things out when they deployed safety Amani Hooker in the slot and defensive back Andrew Adams in his place at safety.

While that was a successful formula, there’s no doubt this secondary will be better with Molden in the slot and Hooker back at his normal position, something we could see as early as this week.

As far as his status for Sunday goes, Molden says he feels good enough to go, and that’s great news for a Titans defense that needs all hands on deck against an elite Kansas City Chiefs offense.

“It feels great [to be back],” Molden said, according to Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “Obviously it’s a long time coming, and in a perfect world I wouldn’t have missed this much time… I really had to work on my patience, of course, and also trying to figure out new ways to lock in, working… I feel good enough to go, and I am only getting better.”

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Titans’ Elijah Molden designated to return from IR

The Titans are close to getting Elijah Molden back.

The Tennessee Titans are close to getting back one of the many players they have on injured reserve, as the team designated cornerback Elijah Molden to return from the list on Wednesday.

With the designation, Molden now has 21 days to be activated from injured reserve or else he must spend the rest of the year on IR. As far as when Molden will actually return to action remains to be seen, though.

However, the team did waive defensive back Ugo Amadi on Tuesday and didn’t make a corresponding move, leaving an open spot on the roster. As a result, it would seem possible Molden returns to the field this week.

Molden suffered a groin injury during training camp and was placed on injured reserve prior to the start of the season, where he has remained since.

In that time, Tennessee’s defense has been sensational and the secondary has been playing better of late after a rough start to the season. The biggest issue has been filling Molden’s spot in the slot, something the Titans have tried to do in multiple ways.

Thankfully, it looks like that will no longer be an issue soon, and what is the strongest part of the 2022 Titans is about to get a bit stronger.

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Titans injury updates: Players on IR won’t return in Week 7

Vrabel also provided updates on some of the Titans who were ruled out in Week 5.

The injury-riddled Tennessee Titans are hoping to get back some of their players this week, whether that be the group that was ruled out in Week 5 or the slew of players that are currently on injured reserve.

On Monday, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel provided an update on some of those players, some good, some bad.

The most notable players who were ruled out in Week 5 included outside linebackers Bud Dupree and Ola Adeniyi, safety Amani Hooker, right guard Nate Davis and linebacker Zach Cunningham.

While we didn’t receive an update on Cunningham or Adeniyi, there was some potentially good news to report with Hooker, Dupree and Davis.

Of the 11 players on injured reserve, we’re keeping an eye on cornerback Elijah Molden, linebacker Chance Campbell, and wide receiver Racey McMath, but it doesn’t look like any of them will return this week.

Here’s what Vrabel had to say about those players ahead of Week 7.

Titans give injury updates on Elijah Molden, Racey McMath, Monty Rice

Titans HC Mike Vrabel provided updates on Monty Rice, Elijah Molden and Racey McMath on Monday.

The Tennessee Titans could be getting some reinforcements this week, as some players on injured reserve and the PUP list are eligible to return.

The four most notable players who fit that bill are cornerback Elijah Molden, linebackers Monty Rice and Chance Campbell, and wide receiver Racey McMath.

When asked about the status of these players on Monday, head coach Mike Vrabel said he doesn’t expect Molden or McMath back this week, but it’s possible we could see Rice.

As far as Campbell is concerned, we didn’t get an update on him.

Rice’s return is significant because Tennessee’s starting linebacker, Zach Cunningham, is dealing with an elbow injury that sidelined him in Week 4.

Granted, Dylan Cole and Joe Schobert played well in Cunningham’s absence, but extra help at the position couldn’t hurt, and we still really don’t know what the Titans have in Rice, giving him potential upside.

The Titans could really use Molden and McMath back, too. Molden will help solidify the slot cornerback position upon his return, and the Titans need bodies at wide receiver with Treylon Burks set to miss time with turf toe.

We should get our next update on Rice when the Titans hit the practice field on Wednesday. It appears we’ll have to wait a bit longer for Molden and McMath, though.

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