Sammie Hill Injury: Updates on Titans NT's Knee and Return

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Sammie Hill has yet to make his 2015 regular-season debut after he underwent surgery on Sept. 2 to repair an MCL injury in his right knee, though he is expected to return soon.

Continue for updates.

---

Hill Active for Week 8

Sunday, Nov. 1

The Titans listed Hill as active against the Houston Texans.

---

Latest on Hill's Practice Status for Week 8

Friday, Oct. 30

The Titans listed Hill as a full participant all week.

---

Whisenhunt Comments on Hill's Injury

Tuesday, Sept. 1

“It’s been two different [injuries],” Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said, per John Glennon of the Tennessean. “He passed the first one and it was on to a different one.”    

---

Hill Has Finally Recovered From Preseason Injury

Hill, 28, was dealing with right-knee issues throughout the preseason. He missed the team's first two preseason contests before returning briefly for the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The Stillman College product is coming off perhaps the best all-around season of his career. Hill made a career-high 33 tackles and three sacks in 2014, ranking 17th in Pro Football Focus' run-stop metric among defensive tackles. He was expected to start again this season—his seventh in the NFL—at nose tackle.

Tennessee leaned on veteran journeyman Al Woods in Hill's absence. In his sixth season, Woods has played for four franchises and has started only three games in his career. He set a career high with 26 tackles last season while serving as a backup behind Hill; he started one game in Hill's absence.

Neither Hill nor Woods is an elite talent, so this wasn't a catastrophic blow. Nevertheless, the Titans can use all the help they can get on defense, and Hill's return will be a boost.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.