Titans Expect Carnell Tate to Play Against Texans

Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate is expected to be available against the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, October 11, 2026, despite a back injury that limited his practice participation. His expected return would preserve a key receiving option for Tennessee in its first AFC South matchup of the season.

According to CBS Sports, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that Tate was "definitely trending" toward playing. Head coach Robert Saleh also indicated after Friday's practice that Tennessee expected the first-round pick to be ready for the game.

NBC Sports reported that the Titans listed Tate as questionable after adding him to the injury report Thursday. He participated on a limited basis in both Thursday's and Friday's practices, with the team yet to provide final confirmation of his availability.

Tate's official status is expected to become clear when Tennessee releases its inactive list 90 minutes before the scheduled 1 p.m. ET kickoff, according to CBS Sports.

The rookie enters the matchup with 22 receptions for 268 yards this season, according to NBC Sports. His latest injury concern followed a strong performance against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4.

In that 24-18 loss to Baltimore, Tate caught nine passes for 145 yards on 12 targets, according to CBS Sports. He commanded 42.9 percent of the team's targets in the game, according to the Fantasy Footballers report, establishing a significant role in Tennessee's passing offense.

If Tate cannot play or experiences a setback, Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike are expected to take on additional receiving snaps, according to Yahoo Sports. Tennessee did not elevate a wide receiver from its practice squad for the matchup.

Several other Titans also face availability concerns. Tight end David Martin-Robinson is questionable with a hamstring injury after missing Friday's practice, while cornerback Joshua Williams is out with a pectoral injury and will have to wait another week before activation from injured reserve, according to Yahoo Sports.

Safety Amani Hooker has been ruled out while progressing through the NFL's concussion protocol, NBC Sports reported. Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who had a back issue, carries no injury designation for Sunday's game.

Tennessee elevated safety Isaiah Oliver and running back Kalel Mullings from its practice squad, according to Yahoo Sports. If Martin-Robinson is unavailable, tight end Kylen Granson could fill his role in three-tight-end formations and on special teams, while Mullings could also help cover special-teams duties.

The Titans' final lineup will depend on the inactive list released before kickoff, with Tate's status remaining the primary question for Tennessee's receiving group.