Titans Add Matt Lauter, Dominic Richardson; Place Jaylen Harrell and Jaren Kanak on Injured Reserve

The Tennessee Titans completed a roster adjustment Tuesday, signing tight end Matt Lauter and running back Dominic Richardson as the team placed Jaylen Harrell and Jaren Kanak on injured reserve. The move underscores how quickly roster depth can become a priority during the late preseason window, when injuries can force teams to reshuffle at key positions.

According to the Titans’ official announcement, Harrell and Kanak suffered season-ending injuries. With those two players now removed from day-to-day participation through the IR designation, Tennessee needed additional bodies to maintain continuity on offense, particularly in roles that often require weeks of practice to time routes, blocking assignments, and pass protection responsibilities.

Lauter’s addition gives the Titans another option in the tight end group. In modern NFL offenses, tight ends are used as both intermediate passing targets and as blockers in base formations and run-heavy packages. By bringing in Lauter, Tennessee indicated it wants to preserve its play-calling flexibility even with an injury depleting the current depth chart.

Richardson’s signing adds another running back to a position that can be stressed by workload management, matchup planning, and the variability that injuries bring. Even when teams keep a feature back as the primary rush option, backups often handle a substantial share of touches, including end-arounds, receptions out of the backfield, and short-yardage carries.

The Titans’ transaction also reflects the NFL’s practical reality: injured reserve is not just a procedural label, it is a roster-structure decision. Teams must account for practice reps, game-week installations, and special-team availability as the active roster shifts to cover what is lost when players cannot return this season.

With Lauter and Richardson now in the mix, the immediate question becomes how Tennessee balances existing personnel with new arrivals. Teams typically evaluate comfort level in protections and route timing, then adjust weekly once practice reps determine who can handle the most assignments. For a roster in transition, the depth chart at tight end and running back can change quickly from one week to the next.

For Harrell and Kanak, the focus is recovery and preparation for next season. Until their returns are possible, Tennessee’s personnel decisions will continue to revolve around staying efficient on offense with the available players and ensuring the group can execute both the passing game elements and the run support responsibilities that define those positions.