Titans Rule Out Carnell Tate, Peter Skoronski, Anthony Hill and Two Others vs. Jaguars

The Tennessee Titans will be short-handed on both sides of the ball Sunday. Coach Robert Saleh ruled out five players for the home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars before Friday's practice: rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate (shoulder), left guard Peter Skoronski (hamstring), linebackers Anthony Hill Jr. (neck) and Cody Barton (concussion), and punter Tommy Townsend (left knee), ESPN's Turron Davenport reported.

Tate's absence hurts the most. The reigning AFC Offensive Rookie of the Month had 21 catches for 290 yards and a touchdown across four October games, and his 413 receiving yards led all rookie pass catchers entering Week 9. He hurt the shoulder in Week 7 against Cleveland and missed the loss to Cincinnati, and the team hoped the bye would get him back. Instead, Saleh said the shoulder "stuck on him a little bit." Second-year receiver Chimere Dike, who caught five passes for 61 yards and a touchdown on a season-high 58 snaps with Tate out against the Bengals, should again see an expanded role.

Skoronski was carted to the locker room after hurting his hamstring in the fourth quarter against Cincinnati. James Hudson III, who played 30 snaps in his place, is expected to start at left guard, though Saleh called it a game-time decision.

The linebacker room takes the biggest hit. Hill, the AFC Defensive Rookie of the Month for September, leads the Titans with 82 tackles and will miss a game for the first time after injuring his neck in Week 8. Barton suffered a concussion in the same game, so Cedric Gray, a camp starter who was sidelined early by a concussion from a UTV accident, steps into a larger role.

Townsend misses a second straight game, and Thomas Morstead will again be elevated from the practice squad to punt.

The 1-7 Titans host the AFC South-leading Jaguars (6-2) at 10 a.m. PT Sunday.