Two Tennessee Titans players who were injured in Sunday's 23-17 victory over Buffalo were not able to practice on Wednesday, but Coach Mike Munchak is hopeful they will be able to play.
Receiver Nate Washington did not practice on his injured ankle, and Jason McCourty did some conditioning drills as he tries to make his way back from a concussion.
Washington, who came back to finish the game against the Bills, said he is going to do his best to play this week against the New Orleans Saints for the sake of his teammates.
“These guys are giving their all, and you don't want to be the guy that's sitting there with a little bump and bruise and not doing the same thing,” Washington said. “A lot of these guys look at me as a leader in some form or fashion, and if that's the attitude they're going to have, then I'm going to give them the warrior mentality, and that's the attitude we all have.”
Munchak said he believed Washington might be able to play, even if he isn't 100 percent.
“I think he’s looking good. He’s walking without much of a limp today. We’re assuming that he’ll be practicing by Friday and playing on Sunday,” Munchak said. “This is real important to him. You saw that last week when he kept coming back in the game. Luckily he didn’t hurt himself worse by doing that. We assume he’ll definitely suit up, and the question is how many plays can he play. Maybe he can’t play—he’s been playing 95 percent of the reps—we may have to adjust that. But I think he’ll be able to contribute and play.”
As for McCourty, who didn't remember the hit he took in Sunday's game while trying to tackle Buffalo's Lee Smith, he will have to pass a baseline test to be cleared to play.
“So far he looks like he’s progressing pretty well. Same thing, hopefully he’ll be able to do some more things tomorrow and then he’d have to pass the test on Friday, and we’re assuming that those things will happen,” Munchak said.
McCourty is taking a wait-and-see approach.
“We'll find out more later in the week. But I'm feeling fine and trying to get better each day,” McCourty said.
Elsewhere, center Eugene Amano was given Wednesday off to rest a sore knee, while linebacker Barrett Ruud remains out with a groin injury.
- Terry McCormick
- co-publiser of TitanInsider - Lions247