The AFC South showdown between the Titans and Jaguars took an unexpected turn late in the game - not because of a highlight-reel play or a game-changing turnover, but due to a sideline altercation that escalated into something far more serious.
In the fourth quarter, Titans running back Julius Chestnut and Jaguars punter Logan Cooke found themselves in the middle of a heated exchange that quickly turned physical. What started as a scuffle near the sideline spiraled into a full-blown confrontation, with players from both teams rushing in as tensions flared. Officials eventually stepped in to break things up, but not before the moment took a darker turn.
After the game, Chestnut spoke to reporters and dropped a bombshell: he claimed Cooke threatened to kill him during the altercation.
“I don't really know why the punter did that, honestly,” Chestnut said. “I was just trying to play hard and he came up to me saying he's gonna kill me, so I don't know what made him do that.”
Chestnut didn’t seem rattled as much as he was baffled. When asked whether it was just tempers flaring or a product of the game’s physicality, he downplayed the idea that it was frustration-fueled.
“I think it was just us playing hard,” he said. “Me and the other guy were just playing hard, and I think he just wanted something to say, honestly.”
Chestnut speculated that a block earlier in the game might’ve rubbed Cooke the wrong way, but even then, he was clearly taken aback by the intensity of the response.
“It might’ve been a couple plays before and I made a block on him, maybe,” Chestnut added. “I don't know what would make him want to do that, but it was surprising to me. I never seen nothing like that before.”
Cooke, for his part, didn’t directly address the accusation. He did speak with the media after the game, though he kept his comments focused on a separate interaction he had with an official earlier in the day. The Jaguars punter said he approached the referee at halftime to clear the air after a punt from deep in his own territory.
“I might have said some things that sounded rude, so I wanted to go clear the air,” Cooke explained. “I don't like people having grudges against me. So kind of telling him the situation and also [wanted to] find out his take on what happened on that play in the end zone.”
It’s worth noting that Cooke also acknowledged Chestnut got the better of him in the game - a rare admission from a player in the middle of a heated moment.
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen addressed the incident postgame, pointing to the overall physicality and emotional intensity of the matchup. He specifically referenced the flag Cooke received for unnecessary roughness, suggesting that the Jaguars’ special teams unit had been feeling the pressure.
“There were some frustrations that were being built up with them rushing us the way they were with the long snapper issue,” Coen said. “We thought we maybe were roughed or potentially roughed at one point. I don't know if it got called or not.”
Coen added that he wants to see Cooke make better decisions in the heat of the moment - especially when it comes to avoiding penalties that could cost the team.
Despite the dust-up, the Jaguars had the final say on the scoreboard. They rolled to a 25-3 win behind a strong performance from quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-27 passing. It was a convincing win for Jacksonville, but the postgame headlines were dominated by the sideline drama.
As the league reviews the incident - and possibly investigates further - this story is far from over. But one thing is clear: what happened between Chestnut and Cooke was more than just your typical post-whistle jawing. And in a season already full of twists, this might be one of the most bizarre moments yet.