Titans replace two preseason-opening casualties with new TE Matt Lauter and RB Dominic Richardson

The Tennessee Titans added two new bodies to their active roster after losing players to season-ending injuries during their preseason opener. On Sunday, the team announced it has signed tight end Matt Lauter and running back Dominic Richardson, filling two spots in the back half of its roster as camp continues to sort out depth and roles.

The roster shakeup matters less for today’s headline than for what it indicates about Nashville’s approach to workload management and positional depth. With injuries ending those players’ seasons before the regular season even begins, the Titans’ coaching staff moved to ensure it would not be forced to rely on marginal options at two key skill positions when exhibition reps turn into evaluation time.

Lauter’s addition gives Tennessee another tight end option in the group that has to support multiple offensive looks, including run blocking, short passing routes, and red-zone packages. Tight end depth is often tested early in the preseason because play calls rotate more often than they do in the season opener, and the players on the roster fringe are asked to handle both physical and assignment-based responsibilities.

Richardson’s signing provides immediate support at running back, where preseason injuries can quickly expose a team’s lack of proven ball-carriers. In many offenses, the second and third running back plays a crucial role in preserving the starter’s carries and testing different running styles, whether it is inside zone, outside runs, or receiving work out of the backfield.

The club’s transaction timing also suggests the Titans want to stabilize its rotation now rather than later. When season-ending injuries occur during an early exhibition game, teams usually have to decide whether to absorb the loss by elevating a scout-team player or to sign someone who can contribute in a wider range of situations immediately. Tennessee chose the latter, adding players who can take reps with the first, second, or third units depending on the week’s practice plan.

At this stage, the public reporting confirms the signings but does not provide additional detail on the specific players Tennessee lost or the exact manner of the injuries. As a result, it is not possible to responsibly evaluate how much long-term depth the Titans have at either position until team practice reports and subsequent roster moves clarify roles and usage.

What to watch next is how quickly Lauter and Richardson integrate into Tennessee’s play-calling and protection schemes, particularly in the run game. The preseason often reveals matchups, pass-route responsibilities, and who can handle the timing demands of the quarterback, and those details usually become clearer as the Titans continue to trim toward the regular-season roster.