L’Jarius Sneed, Lloyd Cushenberry to begin training camp on PUP

The Tennessee Titans will report to training camp on Tuesday. The first practice will occur on Wednesday. Before either of those things happen, we received an injury update on two key starters. Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and center Lloyd Cushenberry will begin camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, according to a report by A to Z Sports.

Sneed is the disappointing one here. The former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback appeared in five contests last year before suffering what proved to be a season-ending quad injury. It was a peculiar setback, initially diagnosed as a day-to-day or week-to-week ailment. Well, Sneed is still dealing with the ripple effect, as he missed all of OTAs and minicamp while rehabbing both that quad injury, and a chronic knee issue that requires workload management.

Sneed recently held a youth football camp near his hometown in Louisiana. He told reporters he was “as healthy as I’ve ever been.” A quick fact check indicates that wasn’t totally accurate. Hopefully the Titans are acting out of an abundance of caution, but it’s impossible not to be frustrated with the lack of progress approximately 250 days later.

Cushenberry’s placement on PUP came as less of a surprise. The starting center suffered a brutal season-ending Achilles injury in Week 9 last year. Cushenberry’s recovery process remains ongoing, though Titans coaches have sounded encouraged by his progress.

Cushenberry’s absence is a shame though. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward will have to settle for backup centers Corey Levin and Sam Mustipher at camp. Ideally, Ward would spend camp developing chemistry with his starting center (and others). Brian Callahan praised Levin for keeping the offense ready and on schedule during OTAs and minicamp. He’ll have to continue doing so with Cushenberry on PUP.