More terrible news for Cam Ward ahead of 49ers threatens to turn Titans’ opponent’s weakness into strength

Cam Ward might be running for his life in Week 15.

Easton Freeze — Tennessee Titans Beat Writer
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The Tennessee Titans head out to San Francisco for Week 15, hot off the heels of their second (count them, two!) win of the year in Cleveland. Unlike the terrible Browns, the 49ers present a return to their previously scheduled programming: playoff team after playoff team.

The Niners have been beaten up to an astonishing degree this year by injuries, but it hasn’t kept them from gritting their way to wins. They’re 9-4, and nearly two-touchdown home favorites over the visiting Titans this weekend. And Friday’s final injury report makes the situation seem even worse for the Titans than Tennessee had hoped.

Cam Ward’s offensive line is beat up badly

Interim head coach Mike McCoy ruled out just one player on Friday, CB Jalyn Armour-Davis. But a bevy of Titans are questionable heading into Sunday, including three starting offensive linemen: LT Dan Moore, C Lloyd Cushenberry, and RG Kevin Zeitler.

These questionable designations aren’t merely technical, either. These guys are seriously questionable to play, according to my sources. There’s a bit of silver lining here. For starters (pun intended), the Titans’ two best linemen are the two who are healthy. Backup C Corey Levin has looked downright better than starter Lloyd Cushenberry the past couple of weeks in relief. And swing tackle Oli Udoh performed admirably in Week 14 against Myles Garrett in the second half when he was called upon.

But this could have been a strength for the Titans in a matchup that they’re otherwise pretty outmatched in. The 49ers’ defense has suffered perhaps the most devastating pair of injuries for any unit in the league this year.

They’ve lost star EDGE Nick Bosa for the year, as well as the best linebacker in the league, Fred Warner. And since Bosa went down in Week 3, their Pass Rush Win Rate of 28.05% ranks last in the NFL. Things only got worse when Warner left the lineup.

But if the Titans are down three-fifths of their offensive line Sunday, it might be weakness on weakness. The field of play being leveled in this way spells bad news for QB Cam Ward, who needs as much help from his supporting cast as he can get down the stretch of this season.

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