The Tennessee Titans have increasing injury problems after returning to their losing ways

NASHVILLE Tenn AP Every time the Tennessee Titans take one step forward it s back they go At least the Titans can take solace in not hurting their chances for picking high in the next NFL draft Tennessee - missed yet another chance to string together consecutive wins for the first time since November Making Sunday s - road loss to the San Francisco ers even worse was the string of injuries that piled up for a young crew How young The Titans had a season-high rookies play for a third straight tournament with four of them starting including quarterback Cam Ward The No overall pick in April sees that as a bright side We are so young and we get better every day Ward noted Film room connecting more outside the building For me to go through my first year with the guys who are going to be with me for a long period of time it s good because we get a lot of bad plays or just little mistakes out of our system Now the challenge is fixing those mistakes with three games remaining in a season that can t end soon enough What s working Tony Pollard had his second straight -yard challenge with yards on carries for a -yard average and a touchdown Ward wasn t sacked even once a first this season Now the NFL s largest part sacked quarterback has company he s tied at with the Chargers Justin Herbert and Geno Smith of the Raiders Ward wound up with a passer rating his best this season finishing with yards with two touchdown passes for a second straight competition What demands help The defense The Titans lost a trio of safeties to injuries after a couple of series They also allowed seven straight third-down conversions Tennessee gave up points on the ers first five possessions four of them touchdowns The Titans didn t force a single punt You have to be able to get off the field on third down interim coach Mike McCoy revealed Stock up Jeffery Simmons The three-time Pro Bowl tackle had a sack giving him a career-high nine this season He also knocked the ball out of Brock Purdy s hand for a fumble that the Titans recovered Simmons then caught a -yard TD pass from Ward in the back of the end zone for his second career TD and first since Nov That made Simmons the first in the NFL with a strip-sack and a TD catch in the same competition since J J Watt did it twice in His was the sixth championship with a sack forced fumble and a TD since sacks became an official statistic in Stock down Joey Slye The kicker who had made seven of field goals from yards and out pushed a -yarder wide right at the end of the first half Then he put a kickoff out of bounds in the opening minute of the fourth quarter after the Titans had pulled within - Injuries LT Dan Moore Jr missed the match with a neck issue A trio of safeties got hurt in the first half and didn t return Xavier Woods and Kevin Winston Jr with hamstring injuries and Mike Brown with an ankle Rookie tight end Gunnar Helm hurt a toe but was able to finish the contest Right guard Kevin Zeitler missed the fourth quarter with an injured groin and wide receiver Van Jefferson hurt his back on a -yard catch Linebacker Cedric Gray didn t return with a concussion Key number Rookie Chimere Dike notched the sixth season in franchise history with at least all-purpose yards He joined Derrick Mason in Chris Johnson in Derrick Henry in Billy Cannon in and Mason in Next attempts The Titans will try to snap an -game home skid which is tied for the franchise s longest since leaving Texas They host the Kansas City Chiefs who come in already eliminated from playoff contention with Patrick Mahomes out for the season AP NFL https apnews com hub nfl Source