I think Titans fans everywhere have been eager to hear some positive news during an overall good, but very chaotic and suspenseful 2021 season. The Titans have dealt with injuries galore, but with the team returning to action after their BYE week there have been some tiny pieces of good news, thankfully.

Several banged up players have gotten an extra week to heal, and some are returning from being out. Star WR Julio Jones, WR/Special teams ace Racey McMath, and Safety Dane Cruikshank are likely to return very soon. Possibly as soon as this week. It will be great if those guys can come back. They are very talented and this team needs as many healthy bodies as they can gather.

This is just the first week after the bye and it's expected that more players can return in the next week or two or three.

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In addition to these players returning and healing, the Titans have signed some players including two notable ones.

The Titans signed the NFL's 2020 leader in tackles, LB Zach Cunningham

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I'm not sure if every NFL fan immediately could recognize Zach Cunningham's name, but as a follower of the AFC South, I definitely know this guy's name. Cunningham was drafted by the Houston Texans in 2017 and was a key member of their defense up until less than a week ago. The Titans played Cunningham twice a season for the past several seasons, and yeah, he was often a menace.

Honestly, this is a huge signing for so many reasons. Many football people have expressed that this was a good, if not great move by the Titans. I totally agree. The Titans have dealt with many injuries at inside linebacker and so getting a guy like Cunningham is massive.

In basically 4.5 seasons in the NFL so far, Cunningham has started 66 games while appearing in 72. In that time Cunningham has been a steady producer, progressing each year in total tackles.

Here's Cunningham's career totals so far:

• 570 total tackles - 358 solo tackles
• 26 tackles for loss
• 6.5 sacks
• 5 forced fumbles
• 3 fumble recoveries
• 1 interception - a pick-six!

Watching Cunningham's highlight tape has got me really excited he is now a Titan!

The Titans defense for the most part has been really solid in 2021. Still, with the team practically drowning in injuries keeping the team's defense supplied with talent is important while the team's offense can continue to get healthy and deal with life without Derrick Henry.

Speaking of the offense the Titans also signed another RB in Jordan Wilkins.

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Wilkins is another former member of the AFC South, a former Colt for the past 3.5 seasons. Wilkins has experience too. Here's some of his stats in three and a half seasons as a pro RB in the NFL:

• 1,184 yards from scrimmage
• 35 receptions
• 4 rushing touchdowns

The Titans signing a third quality back is huge. I remember the Colts using him a fair amount a few years ago, but they've used him less and less as the Colts started finding better running backs like their current one in Jonathan Taylor. Wilkins also has shown some ability to return kicks. The Titans need as many competent runners as possible. The Titans run game has looked decent, but if these backs keep fumbling, having some depth will be great.

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Speaking of running backs, there's some King Henry news! Well, not really news, more like rumors/speculation.

A notable ESPN employee, Dianna Russini, said in an interview recently that she believes Derrick Henry has a strong chance of returning sooner rather than later. She's a pretty respected writer/reporter so people definitely listen when she says something like this.

Maaaaaaan this could be the perfect storm for the Titans. Several players slowly returning, the Titans learning to play without Derrick a little, Derrick himself literally hopefully returning.

The team has survived without Derrick Henry so far. It's been a fair amount of weeks since his injury and the Titans still find themselves sitting at the #2 seed.

This piece of speculation is a nice teaser. This team needs Derrick back badly. The day he returns Titans fans everywhere will be HYPED to the max. That will be a great day.

Keep healing Derrick....

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For now, the Titans will gather the best 53 man roster they can, and give it their all.

#Titanup Welcome to Tennessee Zach and Jordan