Coach Liam Coen says the pair will get a bye-week rest since neither had one with their previous teams before being traded to Jacksonville.
The Jaguars will be without two of their deadline pickups on Sunday. Defensive tackle Jordan Davis and safety Jessie Bates III, both acquired via trades this week, won't play at Tennessee, head coach Liam Coen announced in his Friday press conference.
Coen said the decision came down to the fact that neither player had a bye week with his previous team this season. Resting them now effectively gives both a weekend off before they dive fully into Jacksonville's system.
He explained the move was about making sure the players are safe and set up to succeed, while also giving them time to learn the new defense. Coen added that the coaching staff had discussed the plan throughout the week before finalizing it on Friday.
Not every recent addition is sitting out. Davon Godchaux, who already had a bye this season, is set to play against the Titans. Coen said he has been impressed with the newcomers so far, suggesting the decision to rest Davis and Bates is purely about health and onboarding rather than performance concerns.