Nicholas Petit-Frere’s latest NFL stop is already looking shaky, and for Titans fans, it’s a familiar kind of disappointment.
The former Tennessee right tackle, once a third-round pick the Titans hoped would stabilize the position, is now trying to survive with the Washington Commanders. Instead of carving out a fresh start, he’s already drawing the kind of attention that follows a player when the tape turns ugly fast.
Petit-Frere was cut by Tennessee after his third season, a clear sign the Titans had seen enough. He then landed briefly with the San Francisco 49ers, only to be released less than a month later. Earlier this month, he joined Washington and is now battling to make the team’s 53-man roster.
His preseason work hasn’t helped his case. Petit-Frere recently went viral for a rough rep that ended with Derrick Moore recording the first strip-sack of his career, with the Detroit Lions rookie beating him around the edge for a momentum-swinging play. For Titans fans, it looked painfully familiar.
Derrick Moore welcome to the NFL!
NFL Preseason on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/qxKEbxXrdA
- Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) August 22, 2026
Pro Football Focus has credited Petit-Frere with allowing three quarterback pressures in limited preseason action. Against the Lions, he was charged with a 46.5 pass-blocking grade. That doesn’t suggest much has changed since he left Tennessee.
Meanwhile, the Titans still have issues of their own at offensive tackle. Behind starters JC Latham and Dan Moore Jr., the depth chart doesn’t offer much comfort. The current battle has been between veteran Austin Deculus and sophomore Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, and neither option has exactly inspired confidence.
General manager Mike Borgonzi would be wise to keep an eye on cutdown day, which comes August 30th, in case a better option shakes loose. Petit-Frere could be among the names available, though there’s no reason to think Tennessee should revisit that relationship.
Deculus was left off a recent 53-man roster projection, while Crenshaw-Dickson is viewed as having some developmental potential. Even so, asking him to handle regular-season snaps without affecting the offense would take a major leap. Borgonzi has to be careful here.
Petit-Frere’s struggles in Washington are another reminder of how hard it is to solve offensive tackle. The Titans have moved forward since moving on from him, but they still aren’t fully settled, and the search for depth - and maybe even a long-term answer behind Moore - isn’t over.
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Salehs point was simple enough: this is the last chance for some of those roster hopefuls to change the conversation, especially for players who sat out the previous game and are expected to make one more push in practice. The Titans still have contested spots to sort through, and what happens over the next few days could matter as much as anything that has taken place since camp opened. [Read more 🡒]