In addition to placing wide receiver Justin Hunter on injured reserve this week, the Titans will be sending a key defender to IR, according to Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com, who tweets that cornerback Jason McCourty will undergo groin surgery, ending his season.
McCourty, 28, was selected in the sixth round of the 2009 draft by the Titans, and is one of Tennessee’s more effective defenders when healthy. After racking up 85 tackles to go along with three interceptions a year ago, McCourty missed the first month or so of the season with a groin injury. The former sixth-round pick was able to return for four games, but will now see his season ended prematurely by a second procedure on that troublesome groin.
Around the trade deadline, there were rumblings that the Patriots had interest in McCourty, and spoke to the Titans about a possible deal that would pair him with twin brother Devin McCourty. Even if the Titans had been inclined to move their standout cornerback, however, it’s not clear if he would have passed a physical — he played his last game of the season prior to the trade deadline.
With Hunter and McCourty heading to IR, the Titans will open up two spots on their 53-man roster. According to Kuharsky (via Twitter), Tennessee will use one of those openings on a wide receiver, while the other one may or may not be filled by a cornerback.