Drew

Coleman

The injury was initially thought to be more severe. He’s expected to miss one preseason game, then return to compete for a roster spot.

The sixth-rounder will have an MRI early next week. The Jets have already lost one rookie, fifth-round TE Jason Pociask, to injured reserve.

Poorly timed news for the Jaguars’ thin secondary with RCB Derek Cox still sidelined by a groin injury. The Jags could enter Week 6 with only undrafted rookie Kevin Rutland behind Rashean Mathis and William Middleton at cornerback.

Coleman makes sense for the Titans because he is a slot corner, the position left vacant by Cortland Finnegan’s departure for St. Louis. Signing Coleman would allow the team to keep Alterraun Verner at right corner full time with Jason McCourty on the left. The Titans are also showing interest in Andre’ Goodman and Drayton Florence, though they’re less adept than Coleman in the slot.

Signed to a “three-year,” $7.4M deal last summer, Coleman manned the slot during his lone season in Jacksonville. He held up well in coverage, also recording two sacks, three forced fumbles, and a pair of picks. Coleman, 29, shouldn’t struggle to find work soon. The Jags will go forward with Aaron Ross in the role, and they believe rookie Mike Harris has a future as a slot corner.

The Lions and Titans have called his agent as well. Coleman is familiar with Rex Ryan’s defense, as he played nickel corner for the Jets in 2010. No signing is imminent.

Further testing revealed that Mathis tore his left ACL in Sunday’s win over the Colts. Drew Coleman and Will Middleton are candidates to step in as the starting corner opposite Derek Cox, downgrading the Jaguars’ No. 5 pass defense. It’s especially bad timing for Mathis, who is set to become a free agent after this season.

Coleman appeared in all 16 games with Jacksonville last season, starting four but primarily playing slot corner. Covering the slot is his best position. He finished 2011 with two sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles, also grading out positively in pass coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. Coleman should stand a solid chance of making Detroit’s roster.

Coleman wasn’t even at the team’s facility early in the week, so the concussion must have given the medical staff cause for concern. Coleman was also knocked out of a game last season with a concussion.

Coleman was placed on I.R. after an early-preseason concussion. Now an unrestricted free agent, the slot corner is eligible to sign with the highest bidder.