The Tennessee Titans could miss out on an opportunity to play a former Titans player for the second consecutive week when they play the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9 of the 2011-12 NFL season on November 6, 2011. The Indianapolis Colts placed Kerry Collins(notes) on injured reserve before the Titans pulled off a 27-10 victory against them on October 30.

Adam Jones(notes), formerly known as “Pacman Jones,” hadn’t played professional football since he suffered a neck injury in Week 6 of the 2010-11 season. Jones was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list (PUP) for the first six weeks of this season.

Jones made his return in the Bengals’ game against the Seattle Seahawks on October 30. Unfortunately, Jones wouldn’t make it out of the first quarter. Jones tweaked a hamstring after a 63-yard punt return. He wouldn’t return and is now questionable for Week 9. Marvin Lewis does believe that he’ll be available.

The Bengals have basically earned their 5-2 record with Jones playing less than 15 minutes this season. They shouldn’t suffer too much if Jones was sidelined for any amount of games. The Bengals’ defense is ranked in the top nine against the run and pass. While Jones is a valuable return specialist, Brandon Tate(notes) proved his worth (or Seattle’s ineptness) with a 56-yard punt return that gave the Bengals a 27-12 lead. They eventually won 34-12.

But one can bet that Jones would be eager to face the team that drafted him in 2005. Jones scored five touchdowns as a member of the Titans. However, the Titans traded the oft-troubled defensive back to the Dallas Cowboys after persistent legal troubles would eventually sicken the front office and Middle Tennesseans.

How bad were Jones’ legal issues? The Cowboys didn’t want him. The Bengals would eventually give him what should be his final opportunity in the NFL unless he straightens out and can remain healthy. Jones had agreed to a two-year deal with the Bengals in May of 2010.

I was rather disappointed that Collins wasn’t available. I’d also be disappointed if Jones doesn’t play. This would be the first time that he’s faced the Titans. Living just outside of Nashville, I’m not sure there was anything more annoying than hearing about this guy getting into trouble like every month. I was ecstatic when he was banned for the entire 2007 season.

Maybe Jones can pay back the favor and not push any of the Titans’ receivers out-of-bounds when they’re running up the sideline.

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Tennessee Titans’ Mike Munchak Doesn’t Think Personnel Changes Are Needed: Local Fan’s Take

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By Jim Wyatt, The Tennessean

During the first month of the season, the Titans were the talk of the town. Their fast start raised expectations and temporarily tabled the discussions of a rebuilding year.

Back-to-back losses to the Steelers and Texans by a combined score of 79-24 quickly changed all that.

“It’s
been depressing around here,” safety Michael Griffin said. “It’s been
embarrassing. Just to walk around in public with everyone asking,
‘What’s going on?’ It hasn’t been fun.”

The Titans changed the conversation with a 27-10 win over the Colts on Sunday at LP Field.

It
was their first win in 28 days and it kept them in the thick of the AFC
South race, but the Titans (4-3) simply did what they were supposed to
do – win a home game against a winless team.

“I wouldn’t say there
is any relief at all,” guard Jake Scott said. “… We should have won,
and we did. Now we have to show some consistency. We think we are a
playoff contender, and to prove we are a playoff contender we are going
to have to be able to beat some playoff contenders coming up.”

The
Titans didn’t really resemble a playoff team against the Colts even
though they took control of the game early and were never truly
threatened. They led 20-0 at halftime and pulled away with a late
touchdown after the Colts cut it to 20-10.

By the end, a good
debate surfaced: Did the Titans win because they made marked
improvements from the previous two games or because they faced a vastly
inferior team that made things even more difficult on itself with mental
mistakes and penalties?

Titans Coach Mike Munchak didn’t seem to care, and neither did any of his players.

“We
needed it,” said quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who was 23-of-33 passing
for 224 yards and a touchdown. “I’ve had some years where you just
can’t get a break and then other years where, despite you kind of
shooting yourself in the foot early in the season, you’re still not out
of it, you’ve still got a chance.

“So for us, with nine games to
go, if you would’ve said at the beginning of the year, ‘Hey, will you
take this? Will you take 4-3?’ I think we would take that opportunity.
You can’t ask for a whole lot more, and we control our own destiny in a
way here, so I think we feel good about it. We’ve just got to improve and get better so that we’re not relying on other people to help us.”

The Titans did make plays against the Colts (0-8).

Wide receiver Nate Washington scored two touchdowns, one on a 14-yard catch, the other on a 3-yard run after catching a lateral from Hasselbeck.

The
defense forced two turnovers – interceptions by safety Michael Griffin
and linebacker Barrett Ruud – and the offense converted both into
touchdowns.

The special teams also produced a touchdown – Patrick
Bailey blocked a punt that Jason McCourty recovered in the end zone -
and Rob Bironas kicked field goals of 50 and 51 yards.

“We had a
lot of guys that stepped up and made plays, and this win says a lot
about us as a team,” said wide receiver Damian Williams, who had four
catches for 60 yards. “The true character of a team is how you respond
to adversity and I think we did that today. It changes the perspective.”

One
thing that didn’t change, however, was the conversation about the
running game. Chris Johnson managed 34 yards while backup Javon Ringer
gained 60 yards on the same number of carries (14). Ringer also saw more
action than Johnson in the second half, which is sure to spark more
talk about which back gives the Titans the best chance to win.

Munchak said he would leave that debate to the fans.

“Today,
I’m not troubled,” he said. “Today, I’m happy we won the game. I think
we ought to appreciate the good things that happened in the game.”

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NASHVILLE, Tenn — Tennessee Titans starting right guard Jake Scott is questionable for Sunday’s game with Indianapolis after not practicing Friday with a neck stinger.

Scott, who has started 110 consecutive games, hurt his neck late in Thursday’s practice.

Coach Mike Munchak says Scott’s full strength did not come by Friday as they expected, so the guard was sent for an MRI exam to make sure.

If Scott cannot play against his former team, the Titans (3-3) would start Fernando Velasco at right guard Sunday.

Tight end Craig Stevens remains limited with a rib cartilage injury and is questionable. Defensive end William Hayes is questionable with back spasms.

Matt Hasselbeck practiced fully with his thumb and is listed as probable.

Safety Chris Hope (left forearm) and linebacker Colin McCarthy (hamstring) are out again.

There may not be a lot of aerial fireworks when the Indianapolis Colts visit the Tennessee Titans on October 30, but there should be plenty of ground-rumbling running action for fans to enjoy. The Colts enter this game with the second worst run defense in the NFL, surrendering more than 150 yards per game so far this season. The Titans’ efforts at stopping the rush have been better, but not by much: they’ve given up nearly 125 yards per game. So, both teams will have a terrific opportunity to move the ball with their feet, but the Colts have always been a target for blockbuster running backs, and you just know that Chris Johnson has had this date circled on his calendar for quite some time. As a longtime Colts’ fan, I fear that their recent string of embarrassing performances will continue and allow Johnson to reclaim his spot among the NFL’s elite rushers.

Johnson infamously held out during each of the last two training camps until the Titans finally caved to his demands and made him the highest-paid running back in the game. So far this season, he has rewarded their largess with less than three yards per carry and one measly touchdown. That is a far cry from his breakout season in 2009, when he rushed for 2006 yards (5.6 per carry) with 14 TDs. Even last year’s dropoff (1364 yards, 1 TD) was a stellar performance compared to the current debacle. For Johnson, then, a tilt against the Colts comes at the perfect time, because Indy is a bona fide star-maker for opposing backs. Just ask Arian Foster(notes) about his affinity for this defensive unit.

Normally, a game pitting the Colts against the Titans would have implications for the AFC South race, and that may still be true, but not in the typical manner. At 3-3, Tennessee still has designs on competing this year, but their recent slide puts those ambitions in jeopardy. Indianapolis is clearly playing out the string, already, and the only question is just how bad the team can get. This game represents just another afternoon to slog through for the Colts, but a chance to save the season for the Titans. Don’t be surprised if Tennessee, and especially Chris Johnson, come up really big on Sunday.

Adam Hughes was raised, and still lives, in rural Indiana. He has been a Colts fans since the team arrived in Indianapolis on a snowy morning in 1984. The Blue and White eventually replaced the Chicago Bears as his #1 team, and Super Bowl XLI was a dream come true.

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