Titans Release S Bradley McDougald
Bradley McDougald is back in free agency. Three weeks after signing the veteran safety, the Titans released him Tuesday. However, this essentially amounts to a demotion. The Titans are signing McDougald to their practice squad.
Since McDougald is a vested veteran, he does not have to pass through waivers to join Tennessee’s taxi squad. Salary guarantees may be a factor here. Teams can release vested vets now to avoid full-season guarantees, which take effect in Week 1, making it possible McDougald returns to the Titans’ active roster next week on a team-friendlier agreement.
The Titans signed McDougald to a one-year deal worth $1.1MM. That would have become guaranteed had McDougald been on Tennessee’s active roster in Week 1. The team has Dane Cruikshank and Matthias Farley in place as their backup safeties going into their season opener.
McDougald, 30, spent three seasons as a Seahawks starter before the team included him in 2020’s Jamal Adams trade. The Jets deployed McDougald as a starter during their 2-14 season but saw him go down midway through the year. The Jets let McDougald walk this year. The 49ers represented McDougald’s only non-Titans connection this offseason.
Tennessee also added offensive lineman Corey Levin and defensive back Chris Jones to its practice squad and dropped offensive lineman Derwin Gray from the 16-man unit.
Titans Restructure Julio Jones’ Contract
The Titans have restructured Julio Jones‘ contract, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). The new deal will convert $14MM of his salary into a signing bonus, creating $11.2MM in cap room. To make it all work, Jones’ contract will also have two additional void years. 
In June, the Titans shipped a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick to the Falcons for Jones and a 2023 sixth-round pick. It was a far cry from the Falcons’ initial ask of a first-round pick, but that was the best they could do given Jones’ age (32) and contract. For the Titans, it was a monumental upgrade to bring one of the game’s most accomplished wide receivers to Nashville.
Unlike other suitors — like the Chiefs — the Titans were able to absorb his $15.3MM base salary for 2021. Still, they needed some extra space to make mid-season upgrades and Jones has obliged. For all intents and purposes, everything remains the same on Jones’ end.
Jones, one of the greatest receivers of his generation, holds Falcons franchise records in receptions (848) and receiving yards (12,896). On top of that, his 60 receiving TDs trail only Roddy White‘s 63. Now, he’ll look to add to his lofty totals with the Titans.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/6/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Chicago Bears
- Waived: LB Josh Woods
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: DE Aaron Patrick
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: K Jose Borregales
Tennessee Titans
- W
- Waived: CB Chris Jones
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/3/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Robert Alford
Baltimore Ravens
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Deon Cain
Houston Texans
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Taywan Taylor
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Jamison Crowder; Crowder contracted the coronavirus, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: DL Henry Mondeaux
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: LB Cam Gill
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on IR: DB Brady Breeze
Titans Add MyCole Pruitt To Practice Squad
After a brief stay in San Francisco, MyCole Pruitt will return to Tennessee. The Titans are adding their multiyear tight end contributor to the practice squad Friday.
The blocking tight end played with Tennessee over the past three seasons. Pruitt initially caught on with Tennessee via the practice squad three years ago but ascended to the active roster after Delanie Walker‘s September 2018 injury. He will return to a team that lost Jonnu Smith in free agency.
Pruitt, 29, signed with the 49ers in June but did not make their initial 53-man roster earlier this week. The Vikings draftee started 15 games for the Titans over the past three years and graded as a top-10 run-blocking tight end in 2020, per Pro Football Focus, contributing to Derrick Henry‘s 2,000-yard season.
Tennessee currently has Anthony Firkser in place to succeed Smith as its top tight end, but Geoff Swaim resides on its reserve/COVID-19 list. To make room for Pruitt, the Titans released tight end Miller Forristall from their practice squad.
Additionally, the Titans moved outside linebacker Harold Landry off their reserve/COVID-19 list. Landry spent nearly two weeks on Tennessee’s coronavirus list.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/2/21
Here are Thursday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released from IR with injury settlement: DL Jamell Garcia-Williams
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LS Josh Harris
- Claimed (from Browns): OL Colby Gossett
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: WR Aaron Parker
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: WR Mike Thomas
- Placed on IR: DE Khalid Kareem
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: S A.J. Moore
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: C Ryan Kelly, WR Zach Pascal, QB Carson Wentz
- Placed on IR: QB Sam Ehlinger (story), WR Dezmon Patmon
- Released from IR with injury settlement: TE Noah Togiai
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released from IR with injury settlement: LB Asmar Bial
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released from IR with injury settlement: DT Chris Okoye, OL Tyree St. Louis
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: OL Tremayne Anchrum, LB Obo Okoronkwo
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Chris Garrett
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: P Johnny Hekker
New England Patriots
- Released from IR with injury settlement: OL Marcus Martin
New York Giants
- Released from IR with injury settlement: WR Alex Bachman, DB Montre Hartage, TE Cole Hikutini
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed: CB Andre Chachere (from Chargers)
- Signed: DT Hassan Ridgeway
- Placed on IR: OL Jack Driscoll, TE Tyree Jackson, CB Josiah Scott
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR with injury settlement: LB Mychal Kendricks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: K Ryan Succop
- Placed on IR: G John Molchon
- Released from IR with injury settlement: RB Troymaine Pope
Tennessee Titans
- Released from IR with injury settlement: RB Brian Hill
Washington Football Team
- Released from IR with injury settlement: OT Rick Leonard
Titans Release TE Luke Stocker
The Titans made a handful of roster moves today as they continue to shape their Week 1 roster. The team released tight end Luke Stocker, and they placed running back Darrynton Evans, wide receiver Marcus Johnson, and offensive lineman Daniel Munyer on IR.
Stocker, who has put together a 10-year career thanks to his blocking ability, rejoined the Titans this offseason after Jonnu Smith joined the Patriots. The move was a bit of a homecoming for Stocker; the tight end went to college at Tennessee and played for the Titans for two seasons. With the veteran out of the picture, Tommy Hudson will likely serve as the team’s third tight end behind the Geoff Swaim/Anthony Firkser platoon.
Evans was a third-round pick by the Titans in 2020. He saw time in five games as a rookie, collecting 81 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 16 carries. Khari Blasingame, Jeremy McNichols, and Mekhi Sargent will now compete for reps behind Derrick Henry.
DL Jurrell Casey Announces Retirement
Jurrell Casey‘s 2020 season came to an early end, and the Pro Bowl defensive lineman will not return for an 11th NFL campaign. The former Titans and Broncos defender announced his retirement Thursday morning.
The former third-round pick’s string of Pro Bowls ran through the 2019 season, when the Titans defensive end received his fifth such nod. Casey played nine seasons with Tennessee and was a starter from the outset. One of the top interior D-linemen of the 2010s, Casey ended up making 140 career starts.
The Titans made Casey an integral defensive component throughout the 2010s, signing him to two extensions. The USC product inked his first new deal — a four-year, $36MM pact — in 2014 and continued to play at a high level to the point the Titans gave him a third contract in 2017 (four years, $60MM).
Casey finished his career with 51 sacks — second-most in the franchise’s Tennessee years, one behind Jevon Kearse‘s total — and 85 tackles for loss. Casey is by far the Titans’ TFL king, registering 20-plus more than any other player in the franchise’s 22-season Tennessee stay.
Although the Titans struggled for much of Casey’s career, he contributed on two playoff-bound teams after signing his second extension. In the 2019 slate, Casey returned from injury to factor into Tennessee’s upset wins over New England and Baltimore. He dropped Lamar Jackson for two sacks in the latter victory, which cemented the Titans’ first AFC championship game trip in 17 years.
Tennessee traded Casey to Denver in 2020, but a biceps tear ended his season after three games. Injuries to Casey, Von Miller and other starters did well to sink Denver’s 2020 season. The Broncos released Casey in February, and although he popped up on teams’ radars this offseason, the accomplished defender changed course to lead to Thursday’s announcement.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC North
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Steelers moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s AFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Baltimore Ravens
Signed to practice squad:
- OT Adrian Ealy, NT Justin Ellis, LB Blake Gallagher, DB Anthony Levine, QB Trace McSorley, WR Jaylon Moore, TE Tony Poljan, DB Jordan Richards, OT Andre Smith, DE Chris Smith, P Johnny Townsend, K Jake Verity, WR Benjamin Victor
Cincinnati Bengals
Claimed:
- DB Nick McCloud (from Bills), DE Wyatt Ray (from Titans)
Released:
- WR Mike Thomas
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Joe Bachie, CB Tony Brown, P Drue Chrisman, S Trayvon Henderson, LB Keandre Jones, TE Thaddeus Moss, RB Jacques Patrick, CB Winston Rose, TE Mason Schreck, DE Noah Spence, G Keaton Sutherland, WR Trent Taylor, DT Renell Wren, RB Pooka Williams, RB Trayveon Williams
Cleveland Browns
Signed:
- DE Joe Jackson
Placed on IR:
Signed to practice squad:
-
WR Ja’Marcus Bradley, DT Sheldon Day, TE Jordan Franks, DE Porter Gustin, RB John Kelly, LB Elijah Lee, S Jovante Moffatt, QB Nick Mullens (story), WR JoJo Natson, FB Johnny Stanton, OL Jordan Steckler, DE Curtis Weaver
Pittsburgh Steelers
Signed to practice squad:
- DL Daniel Archibong, WR Rico Bussey, FB Trey Edmunds, DB Mark Gilbert, OT Chaz Green, S Karl Joseph, OL John Leglue, LB Christian Miller, G Malcolm Pridgeon, TE Kevin Rader, RB Jaylen Samuels, WR Steven Sims, DB Donovan Stiner, LB Derrek Tuszka, WR Cody White
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC South
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Colts, Jaguars, Texans and Titans moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s AFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Houston Texans
Signed to practice squad:
- TE Antony Auclair, DB Shyheim Carter, QB Jeff Driskel, OL Hjalte Froholdt, OL Carson Green, CB Isaiah Johnson, OL Ryan McCollum, WR Chris Moore, LB Hardy Nickerson, S Jonathan Owens, CB Antonio Phillips, TE Paul Quessenberry, DE Derek Rivers, OL Lane Taylor, WR Jordan Veasy
Indianapolis Colts
Claimed:
- DB Thakarius Keyes (from Chiefs), DB Chris Wilcox (from Buccaneers)
Waived:
- S Andre Chachere, CB Marvell Tell
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Tarik Black, LB Curtis Bolton, DT Andrew Brown, CB Anthony Chesley, DE Kameron Cline, WR Keke Coutee, S Sean Davis, S Shawn Davis, TE Farrod Green, WR DeMichael Harris, QB Brett Hundley, C Joey Hunt, RB Deon Jackson, LB Malik Jefferson, OT Carter O’Donnell, WR Tyler Vaughns
Jacksonville Jaguars
Claimed:
- WR Tyron Johnson (from Chargers; story)
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Lorenzo Burns, DT Doug Costin, WR Jeff Cotton Jr., RB Nathan Cottrell, WR Phillip Dorsett, WR Josh Hammond, OL K.C. McDermott, RB Devine Ozigbo, DB Brandon Rusnak, WR Devin Smith, Badara Traore, WR Laquon Treadwell, OL Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms
Tennessee Titans
Claimed:
- OL Corey Levin (from Jets)
Released:
- QB Matt Barkley
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, S Jamal Carter, FB Tory Carter, OL Christian DiLauro, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, TE Miller Forristall, OL Derwin Gray, DL Woodrow Hamilton, LB Jan Johnson, WR Mason Kinsey, DL Naquan Jones, OL Jordan Roos
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: