PLAYER NOTES
–QB Marcus Mariota has ditched the half glove that he has worn since injuring his elbow and causing tingling and numbness in his throwing hand. He sustained the injury in the season opener but only missed one game – Week 2 against Houston.
–G Josh Kline left the Titans’ loss two weeks ago against the Chargers with an undisclosed injury. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said Kline is improving, but he was held out of practice on Tuesday.
–S Kenny Vaccaro, who has been out since the Titans’ Sept. 30 win over Philadelphia with a dislocated elbow could be on the verge of returning to action. He practiced in limited fashion two weeks ago before the game in London vs the Chargers, but was inactive for the game.
–LB Derrick Morgan suffered a shoulder injury three weeks ago against the Baltimore Ravens and is trying to work his way back. Head coach Mike Vrabel said at the time of the injury that Morgan would be out for several weeks.
–FB Jalston Fowler rejoined the Titans this week after being released last December. Fowler had spent time with the Seahawks and Falcons since leaving the Titans, but did not play in a regular-season game with either team.
–G Quinton Spain should be back this week after getting two weeks off to deal with a shoulder injury sustained against the Ravens. Spain was inactive against the Chargers.
–LB Robert Spillane was waived from the Titans active roster on Monday to make room for fullback Jalston Fowler.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: WR Corey Davis. The 2017 first-round pick was thought to have turned the corner with a breakout game against the Eagles a month ago (nine catches, 161 yards and a game-winning TD in overtime). Since then, Davis has all but disappeared from the offense and has been one of several Tennessee receivers to be plagued by drops this year. In the three games since his breakout game, Davis has eight catches total for 83 yards.
GAME PLAN: The Titans and Cowboys in some ways are mirror images of each other. They both feature quarterbacks in Marcus Mariota and Dak Prescott who have starred at times, but have not been consistent enough. Both teams need the running game to be effective to take the pressure off the quarterbacks and put them in favorable down-and-distance situations. The Titans may have to do some passing to run, given how stout the Cowboys defense can be against the run. If so, who among the receivers will step up? Running back Dion Lewis might be their best bet out of the backfield on check-downs and screens.
Defensively, the Titans have to slow down Ezekiel Elliott and put the pressure on Prescott to make plays in the passing game.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Titans CB Logan Ryan vs. Cowboys WR Amari Cooper. Cooper, just acquired from the Raiders for a first-round pick on the Dallas bye week, will make his Dallas debut on Monday Night Football against the Titans. Ryan or Adoree’ Jackson could draw Cooper in the game with Ryan usually taking the bigger wideouts and Jackson going against the smaller and quicker receivers.
–Titans DL Jurrell Casey vs. Cowboys interior OL. The Cowboys, much like the Titans, have seen their offensive line regress this season, even firing offensive line coach Paul Alexander this week. Casey has been a game-changer on the defense this season, putting up 3.5 sacks and winning his matchup both in run and pass situations. The Titans probably should move Casey around on the defensive front in order to find the best possible point of attack, especially in pass-rush situations.
