Tennessee Titans linebacker Monty Rice will miss part of the 2022 regular season with his achilles injury after being transferred to the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) List by the Titans on Wednesday.

#Titans LB Monty Rice is heading to the PUP list. He will miss at least the first 4 games of the regular season.

— Sam Phalen (@Sam_Phalen) August 24, 2022

Rice, a 3rd round pick by the Titans in the 2021 NFL Draft, was set to take a big step up in the Titans defense if he was able to get back on the field by the start of the season.

Instead, the achilles injury that kept Rice out of the final six games of 2021 will now have him sidelined for at least four contests in 2022.

When Rice was on the field as a rookie, he made things happen. The Georgia product made 36 tackles in 10 games and four starts during his rookie year, and was likely going to be the third option in an inside linebacker room that already has established veterans David Long Jr. and Zach Cunningham.

Reminder that Monty Rice exists pic.twitter.com/gJVMpCB5W9

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) June 22, 2022

With Rice now off of the 53-man roster for cut day on Tuesday, rookie linebacker Chance Campbell (sixth round pick) feels like a lock to make the team.

Meanwhile, Jack Gibbens (UDFA), Dylan Cole, and Joe Jones all could be competing for one or two remaining spots in the inside linebackers room.

The Titans kept just four ILB's on their initial 53-man last season, but that number could jump to five if the team cuts back on defensive backs.

Image via Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports