The Tennessee Titans announced Tuesday they have released defensive lineman Jordan Elliott after reviewing an unspecified “incident” that took place at the team facility the week of Oct. 15. The move removes a veteran presence from the team's defensive front in the middle of the season.
“On Thursday, October 15, there was an incident at our team facility involving Jordan Elliott,” the team said in a statement.
“Following our review of the incident, we have made the decision to release Elliott from our roster. We will have no further comment on the matter.”
Elliott, a seventh-year NFL veteran, signed with the Titans in free agency this offseason after spending time with the San Francisco 49ers in 2025, when he played under head coach Robert Saleh while Saleh was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. The defensive tackle had a two-year contract valued at $8 million signed in 2026.
What the roster change means on the field
Through five games this season Elliott totaled 11 tackles. Pro Football Focus graded him below average in run defense for the season at 47.6, though he posted his best single-game grade (67.5) in a loss to the Houston Texans. He primarily lined up on the right side as a run-stopping interior lineman.
By releasing Elliott the Titans open a spot on the defensive line and create immediate depth questions, particularly against opponents that emphasize rushing at the interior. The team will now look to other roster options and younger players to fill snaps that Elliott previously handled.
Contract and career context
Elliott’s deal carried a $2.8 million cap hit this season and a scheduled $5.1 million cap hit next season. He entered the NFL as a third-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2020 out of Missouri and had logged 102 career games with 65 starts at the time of his release. Across his NFL career he compiled 159 tackles, including 71 solo stops, 11 tackles for loss and 14 quarterback hits.
| Category | Figure |
|---|---|
| Contract value (signed 2026) | $8 million (2 years) |
| 2026 cap hit | $2.8 million |
| 2027 cap hit | $5.1 million |
| 2026 tackles (through five games) | 11 |
Elliott had rejoined Saleh’s orbit after playing with the 49ers for two seasons, where he posted 50 tackles, including 20 solo stops, three tackles for loss and four quarterback hits. Before San Francisco he spent four seasons with the Browns.
Timing and recent availability
The team noted the incident happened Oct. 15. Elliott practiced during the week before last but by the Oct. 16 injury report he was listed out for personal reasons and did not travel with the team to Indianapolis for the Week 6 game, a 26-20 Titans victory against the Colts — the club’s first win of the season.
The Titans declined further comment, and a text message to Elliott’s agent seeking additional information was not immediately returned, according to reporting from The Tennessean.
- Release date: Oct. 20, 2026
- Incident date noted by team: Oct. 15, 2026
- Games played this season before release: five
For Titans fans and observers, the roster change will be one to watch in the coming days as the club determines who will absorb Elliott’s snaps and how it adjusts its interior defensive rotation. I will monitor roster moves and coach statements and report updates as the team provides further information.
