Anfernee Orji‘s third NFL campaign will not include any regular season playing time. The Titans linebacker suffered an ACL tear during practice on Thursday, per veteran reporter Paul Kuharsky. 
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As a result of the injury, Orji will miss the 2025 campaign. The former UDFA entered the league with the Saints in 2023 but did not see any playing time as a rookie. Last year, he managed to survive roster cuts with New Orleans and made a total of 16 appearances.
During that time, Orji made a pair of starts and registered 30 tackles. The 24-year-old played sparingly on defense but was a key figure on special teams, logging an 82% snap share in the third phase. Orji was waived by the Saints in May and then claimed by the Titans, but his bid to make Tennessee’s Week 1 roster has come to an abrupt end.
The Titans signed Cody Barton in free agency, and the former Seahawk, Commander and Bronco will be tasked with handling starting duties on his latest team. Meanwhile, 2024 draftees Cedric Gray and James Williams, along with third-year Titan Otis Reese, are in place as depth/special teams options at the linebacker spot. Their health through the remainder of the offseason will be key in the wake of today’s news.
Orji’s attention will now turn to the lengthy recovery process associated with ACL tears. The Titans currently have over $29MM in cap space, so adding a new linebacker via free agency will not be challenging if a depth move is deemed necessary.