More Details Surface on L'Jarius Sneed’s Indictment: Titans Face Potential Crisis
Last week, amongst the fray of the Tennessee Titans many issues and struggles on the field, the franchise came face-to-face with a personnel issue beyond it; not only that, but it took place in an entirely different state. L'Jarius Sneed, ne of the team's go-to defensive veterans, in spite of injuries that have kept his playing time limited to spurts, was indicted in Texas on an issue stemming back to the final month of last year.
Prior Issues
On December 6, 2024, cornerback Sneed and Tekonzae Warmek Williams — who is said to be Sneed's personal assistant -— were each indicted for allegedly firing a weapon at a car dealership in the Lone Star State. While Sneed claimed to Titans' Paul Kuharsky that is he no longer affiliated with Williams, his plea only appears less and less likely in light of consistent new information. The latest of which is perhaps the most telling.
As the Titans division duel with the Houston Texas (ironically enough) approaches this weekend, a new break regarding Sneed's situation has hit the news waves. Reportedly, just minutes prior to the aforementioned alleged shooting, surveillance video captured the CB driving in a car in the immediate relevant area.
The Footage
In an article by AP Pro Football writer Teresa Walker, it is stated that Sneed "can be seen getting out of the Lamborghini, then using crutches to walk past the men [who were shot at] and up stairs into the dealership at 3:22 p.m. on that date. Sneed walks out about a minute later in the video."
Further, Sneed "also can be seen in separate surveillance video at a gas station at the same time as the two men. In the video, Sneed walks in from a gas pump, goes to a register and then walks back to the same car when Christian Nshimiyimana and Avi Ahmed were inside."
"Detectives also confirmed Sneed’s identity from surveillance video from several locations," Walker said.
How this instance will impact the Titans' defensive secondary means very little; not only because the team has gone so long without him in the rotation already, but because the severity of the issue, and the mounting negative evidence within it, suggests that the team may be better off entirely regardless of the impending resolution.
With new evidence unfolding on a daily basis, it'll likely be a while before Tennessee knows Sneed's future either way. All that can be done now is to assume that he won't return on focus on winning with what remains.
Andy Reid Drops Final Isiah Pacheco Update Before Chiefs vs. Broncos
The war of attrition is a natural part of the NFL, and the Kansas City Chiefs have learned that the hard way as of late. Despite coming off a Week 10 bye, the reigning AFC champs still have some injuries to tend to.
With Sunday’s Week 11 bout against the Denver Broncos approaching, several players popped up on the club’s injury report. Running back Isiah Pacheco topped the list, with plenty of doubt surrounding his status for the weekend.
Speaking to the media on Friday afternoon, head coach Andy Reid added some fuel to that fire.
Andy Reid Makes Last Update on RB Isiah Pacheco for Week 11 vs. Broncos
Reid didn’t confirm that his starting halfback would miss Sunday’s game, but he also did nothing to instill more confidence. If historical Reid trends hold, Pacheco could miss the Chiefs’ Week 11 AFC West showdown in Denver with an MCL sprain.
“Alright, so the only person who didn’t practice today was Pacheco,” Reid said. “Everybody else went.
Earlier this week, Reid made it clear that he’d “have to see” how Pacheco progressed before making a determination on his status. With the former seventh-round pick missing each practice this week, expectations for his ultimate decision became clearer.
UPDATE: Kansas City officially ruled Pacheco out later on Friday afternoon.
Pacheco, now in his fourth season with the Chiefs, has logged 78 carries for 329 yards and a touchdown this year. In the games he’s played, he was on the field for 56.4% of available offensive snaps (307 reps). In his last healthy outing, a 28-7 win over the Washington Commanders, he set a season-high mark with 58 rushing yards. Unfortunately, the Rutgers product sustained the knee injury in the fourth quarter.
With Pacheco out in Week 9’s 28-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City went with Kareem Hunt as its lead halfback. He led the team in carries (11) and yards (49), also recording a rushing touchdown. Rookie Brashard Smith (3 carries for 7 yards) and 2020 first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire (2 carries for 5 yards) supported Hunt.
With a shorthanded running back rotation once again, it’s reasonable to expect Hunt to be leaned on to produce.
Other Chiefs Injury Odds & Ends Ahead of Sunday’s Game
Pacheco, while the most pressing, wasn’t the only injured Chief who needed to be accounted for. Two players, wide receiver Xavier Worthy and defensive end George Karlaftis, were limited at practice in various points of the week.
Worthy’s inclusion in the Thursday injury report caught many by surprise. After all, he wasn’t on Week 9’s pre-bye list, leaving most to assume he was past his ankle injury. On the contrary, Reid says the speedy wideout aggravated the issue a bit this week. He was a full participant in Friday’s work, however, according to Reid.
“Xavier, I know, was on that list,” Reid began. “He’s had an ankle. He just tweaked it a little bit, but he was good, good to go. He did everything today, no problem.”
Karlaftis, the Chiefs’ leader in sacks (5) and tackles for loss (7), was limited on both Wednesday and Thursday. Despite his thumb injury, Reid didn’t seem worried about the fourth-year man’s availability for the weekend.
“George did a nice job today, I thought,” Reid said. “Good.”
Kansas City won’t be at 100% health against their division rivals, but things could certainly be worse for them as they look to climb back into the conference playoff picture.
