Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh is pushing hard for Jordan Elliott to get another shot after the defensive tackle’s release following a firearm-related incident at the team facility.
The Titans cut Elliott on October 20 after reviewing what happened during practice on October 15. Reports said Elliott got into an argument with offensive tackle JC Latham, then left the facility and came back with a firearm from his vehicle.
Veteran defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers stepped in and kept the situation from escalating further. No injuries were reported.
Saleh addressed the incident with reporters on Wednesday and made clear how he views Elliott’s character.
“He’s a good man. Had a terrible lapse in judgment that I recognize as a call for help more than a criminal act,” Saleh said. “It’s unfortunate the way it went down.”
He added that the moment should be seen as more than just a bad decision.
“I think everyone forgets to ask is why would a great man, a great father, a man who shows up on time every day, works his [expletive] off every day, contributes the way he’s supposed to contribute, is well liked in the locker room? Why did he go off the rails and grab a gun?” Saleh said.
Elliott, 28, joined Tennessee in March on a two-year, $8 million deal after previously playing under Saleh in San Francisco. This season, he had 11 tackles in five games. The NFL is still reviewing the incident, and Elliott’s next move is unresolved.
Saleh also turned his remarks into a direct appeal to the rest of the league.
“My message to 31 other teams would be: if you need a hell of a run-stopping D tackle that can help you on a playoff run, give me a call. I’ll tell you everything you need to know about him,” Saleh said.
He praised Franklin-Myers for stepping in and helping calm the situation, and said the Titans and the NFL worked to connect Elliott with clinicians who could help.
Saleh also referenced the league’s recent losses of two young players to suicide, saying it is important to notice when someone may be struggling. He added that he was not assuming anything about Elliott’s mental health.
In Other News...
Titans Suddenly Have A Big Alontae Taylor Decision Looming
Alontae Taylors Week 6 status was a notable one for the Titans, even before the rest of the league started thinking ahead to the NFL trade deadline. Robert Saleh made the coaching decision to keep the cornerback a healthy inactive, a move that immediately added another layer to a situation already worth monitoring in Tennessee.
Now the broader picture is coming into focus, with ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reporting that Taylor has emerged as a sleeper trade target. Any deal would come with complications because of his contract and the financial side of the equation, which leaves Tennessee with a decision to weigh rather than a clear path to take. The Titans could explore moving him, but they are under no obligation to do so. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Release Jordan Elliott After Frightening Incident At Team Facility
The Titans moved quickly to part ways with defensive tackle Jordan Elliott after a frightening incident at the team facility that turned a routine practice day into something far more serious. According to the account, Elliott retrieved a gun from his car after an altercation during practice, but he was talked down before anyone was hurt, leaving the organization to deal with a situation that crossed well beyond football.
Robert Saleh addressed the episode in a press conference and described it as a cry for help, while also vouching for Elliott's character. Even with that support, the Titans made the decision to release him, underscoring how volatile the moment was and how much bigger the fallout is than any on-field issue the team might face this week. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Face A Familiar Test After Finally Getting Their First Win
The Titans finally have something positive to build on as they turn the page to a Week 7 matchup with the Browns, and for a team that has spent the early part of the season searching for traction, that alone matters. Getting a first win can change the tone in a locker room, but the real question in Nashville is whether it can also steady a team that still needs its defense to carry a heavy load while the offense continues to find its footing.
Cleveland brings a familiar kind of stress test, the sort that asks Tennessee to win with discipline, field position and enough stops to keep the game within reach. The matchup sets up as one of those grind-it-out afternoons where the Titans defense could decide everything, which is why there is at least a reasonable case for Tennessee to come out on top if that side of the ball shows up again. [Read more 🡒]