As one left tackle after another went down, Rodger Saffold learned to speak up.
The 2020 season was Saffold’s 11th in the NFL and his second as the Tennessee Titans left guard. For the first time, though, he learned that he is not so much a puzzle piece that locks into his spot along the line as he is a drop of water that takes whatever shape is necessitated by his surroundings.
Saffold started 15 of the 16 games and along the way adapted as Taylor Lewan (five games) got hurt and gave way to Ty Sambrailo (five games), who likewise was injured and was replaced by David Quessenberry, who started for the final six contests. The one game Saffold missed was during Sambrailo’s tenure.