ARLINGTON, Texas _ The Tennessee Titans were already short-handed on the offensive line at the start of Sunday's 34-27 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
By game's end, they were dipping even further into their depth.
Starting left guard Leroy Harris was inactive because of an ankle injury suffered late last week against Denver, forcing the Titans to have Fernando Velasco make his first NFL start on Sunday.
Velasco was whistled for a pair of holding calls, but he did have a key fumble recovery in the red zone when Chris Johnson lost the football after a pass reception.
But Velasco's most important contribution was probably his ability to move to center after Eugene Amano suffered a neck stinger on Johnson's 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
That left the Titans scrambling and using Ryan Durand at guard for his first action on the offensive line in a regular season game.
As for Amano's injury, the veteran center said he was OK after the game.
“I went to my usual block, I hit him head up and my neck just happened to snap back, kind the wrong way and just kinda went numb a little bit, it was a real bad stinger,” Amano said. “It was a real bad pain right down my arms and into my fingers, something I never felt before. So it was kind of a little shock to me a little but but I’m fine. The doctors held me out just as a precautionary thing.”
Amano said he will be evaluated Monday as a precaution.
Other injuries
Defensive Jason Babin finished the game and had two sacks, but was treated for a dislocated pinkie after the contest was over.
Also, linebacker Colin Allred was shaken up, but left the field under his own power.
Defensive end William Hayes, who has been battling through and recovering from a sprained knee, was tended to on the field, but finished the game.
Receiver Damian Williams took a hard shot on an incomplete pass in the first half. No injury was evident at first, but Lavelle Hawkins played mostly as the third receiver in the second half.
- Terry McCormick
- co-publiser of TitanInsider - Lions247