Tennessee Titans center Lloyd Cushenberry III (Achilles) will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining an Achilles injury in the team's 20-17 overtime win over the New England Patriots. Cushenberry, who signed a four-year $50 million deal in the off-season ($26 million guaranteed), will now begin the long road to recovery. It's an enormous blow to Tennessee's offensive line, as the former Denver Bronco was one of five team captains. While he is shelved, veteran interior lineman Corey Levin (who replaced Cushenberry on Sunday) will work in his stead.
Lloyd Cushenberry The Favorite To Retain Starting Job At Center
Denver Broncos center Lloyd Cushenberry missed nine games last season with a hip injury, but he's still probably the favorite to retain the starting center job heading into the 2023 regular season. However, the former third-round pick in 2020 could be pushed by second-year player Luke Wattenberg, seventh-round rookie Austin Forsyth or veteran addition Kyle Fuller. The Broncos didn't draft an offensive tackle and haven't signed one outside of Mike McGlinchey so far in the offseason. In each of the last three seasons, Cushenberry has been the team's starter under center. If he stays healthy in training camp, quarterback Russell Wilson should be taking snaps from him again in Week 1.
Broncos Putting Lloyd Cushenberry On Injured Reserve
The Denver Broncos are placing center Lloyd Cushenberry (groin) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday with a groin injury, according to a source. The earliest he can return would be in Week 14 against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. In a corresponding move, the team is signing veteran safety Anthony Harris to the active roster from the practice squad. Cushenberry suffered the injury in the Week 8 game in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars and will now miss at least the next four games. It's a blow to an already shaky offensive line in Denver, so it's more bad news for struggling quarterback Russell Wilson. With Cushenberry out, Graham Glasgow will likely start at the pivot for the Broncos, beginning in Week 10 against the Tennessee Titans.
The Denver Broncos used the No. 83 pick in the 2020 NFL draft to select LSU center Lloyd Cushenberry. Cushenberry earned first-team All-SEC honors after his 2019 season while appearing in all 15 of LSU's games during their national title-winning campaign. The junior is regarded as a starter-quality center, although he does possess limited lateral quickness, which can be an issue against athletic pass rushers. The addition of Cushenberry should go a long way toward protecting second-year quarterback Drew Lock in 2020 and beyond.
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