Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Saints on Monday, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Johnson will provide depth in New Orleans' secondary while also contributing on special teams. The 27-year-old defensive back has appeared in 56 NFL games split between Houston and Tennessee.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Naquan Jones: Signs tender with Titans
Rotowire
Jones signed his exclusive rights tender with the Titans on Thursday, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.
Jones will remain in Tennessee after suiting up in 24 games for the Titans over the previous two seasons. The 25-year-old defensive tackle registered 3.5 sacks and 45 tackles in those two campaigns.
... See More... See Less
Bud Dupree: Time up in Tennessee
Rotowire
Dupree was released by the Titans on Thursday, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.
On the bright side, Dupree didn't have an injury designation tied to his release, so he appears to have recovered from the pectoral injury that forced him onto injured reserve down the stretch in 2022. Dupree had 19.5 sacks for the Steelers between 2019 and 2020, but he mustered just seven sacks across two subsequent seasons with the Titans and has been limited to 11 appearances in each of the past three campaigns.
... See More... See Less
Bears' DeMarcus Walker: Agrees to deal with busy Bears
Rotowire
Walker agreed to a three-year, $21 million contract with the Bears, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Walker racked up a career-high seven sacks in 2022 with the Titans. The Bears will be Walker's fourth team, as the 28-year-old defensive lineman spent four years in Denver and one apiece in Houston and Tennessee before cashing in on his breakout season with this contract.
... See More... See Less
Dolphins' David Long: Heading to Miami
Rotowire
Long is expected to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Dolphins, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.
Long missed five games last year, and he also missed seven games in 2021, so his durability is a concern. After averaging 6.02 tackles per game two years ago, he improved to 8.08 stops per game during his final year in Tennessee. Although he doesn't have any sacks in his career, he's been credited with 11 passes defensed over the last two years. He should move into a starting inside linebacker position with the Dolphins, and it's reasonable to expect his per-game tackle production to be similar to last year.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Harold Landry: Looking good in recovery
Rotowire
Coach Mike Vrabel said Sunday that Landry (knee) "looks great from a physical standpoint" in his recovery from a surgically repaired ACL, Mike Moraitis of USA Today reports.
Vrabel declined to offer an update on Landry's recovery timetable, but overall sounded optimistic as to the standout linebacker's recovery. Landry suffered a season-ending ACL injury just before Tennessee's opener against the Giants in 2022, a devastating turn after he picked up 12 sacks and his first Pro Bowl nod the year prior. Looking ahead to the 2023 campaign, much of the Titans' defensive prospects will depend on Landry making a full recovery.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Bud Dupree: Expected to be released
Rotowire
Dupree (pectoral) is expected to be released in the near future, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Dupree is due to make $17 million this season, and the Titans will save cap space by letting him go. The pass rusher suffered a pectoral injury late in the season and may be sidelined into the offseason program. Dupree appeared in 11 games with Tennessee in 2022, compiling 18 tackles, including four sacks, while recording a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
... See More... See Less
Zach Cunningham: Released by Tennessee
Rotowire
The Titans released Cunningham (elbow) on Wednesday with a failed physical designation, Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com reports.
Cunningham was placed on injured reserve twice during the 2022 season and made only six appearances, totaling a career-low 24 tackles across 193 defensive snaps. It's unclear if the elbow injury that sidelined him at the end of the campaign will be an issue heading into the offseason, but he'll have to prove he's healthy before he can sign with a new team. Cunningham joins Robert Woods, Taylor Lewan (knee) and Randy Bullock as cap causalities for the Titans, who began the offseason $25 million over the salary cap.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Rashad Weaver: Big step forward in second season
Rotowire
Weaver recorded 27 tackles, 5.5 sacks and six passes defended across 16 games in 2022.
After playing only 11 defensive snaps in his rookie season, Weaver joined Tennesse's normal linebacker rotation in 2022. He responded by showing an ability to get pressure on the quarterback while also helping out in coverage. Weaver should have the chance to take another step forward as he enters this third year as a pro in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Amani Hooker: Plagued by multiple injuries
Rotowire
Hooker recorded 46 tackles, three passes defended and one interception across nine games in 2022.
Hooker was limited to only nine games due to both shoulder and knee injuries, which held down his overall numbers. However, he continued to have a significant role when healthy, and he now has at least three passes defended in each of his last three seasons. Hooker is locked into a long-term deal with the Titans and should hold a key role in the secondary once again in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Roger McCreary: Inconsistent rookie season
Rotowire
McCreary recorded 84 tackles, eight passes defended and one interception across 17 games in 2022.
McCreary was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and was immediately a starting cornerback for the Titans. He closed the season well by racking up four passes defended across his last four games, but he also gave up seven touchdowns on the campaign. McCreary will look to become more consistent in his second year, but he should continue to have a significant role in the Tennessee secondary.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Jeffery Simmons: Remains disruptive force
Rotowire
Simmons recorded 53 tackles, 7.5 sacks and seven passes defended across 15 games in 2022.
Simmons fought through an ankle injury for most of the season, an issue that cost him two games. Nevertheless, he topped 50 tackles for the second consecutive campaign and has 16 sacks across his last 33 contests. Simmons is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is a candidate to receive an extension this offseason.
... See More... See Less
Titans' David Long: Injury-plagued campaign
Rotowire
Long (hamstring) finished the 2022 season with 86 tackles, five passes defended and two interceptions across 12 games.
Long remained a key contributor to Tennessee's defense when he was on the field, as he racked up at least eight tackles in seven of his 12 contests. However, he's now missed at least two games in all four of his seasons in the NFL, and he finished the 2022 campaign on injured reserve. Long will enter free agency after playing out the final season of his rookie contract, and he should draw significant interest in free agency.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Kevin Byard: Remains key contributor
Rotowire
Byard finished the 2022 season with 108 tackles, four interceptions and an additional two defensed passes across 17 games.
Byard remained a stalwart in the Titans' secondary this past season, and he has yet to miss a game in his seven-season career. He's topped 1,000 defensive snaps in six of those campaigns and has picked off at least four passes on five occasions. Byard will enter 2023 with two years remaining on his contract with the Titans and figures to remain a key contributor.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Amani Hooker: Available for Week 18
Rotowire
Hooker (knee) has been deemed active ahead of Saturday's regular-season finale versus Jacksonville.
Hooker was considered questionable to play Week 18 after missing the Titans' previous three games with a knee injury. While he was sidelined during practice Thursday, the 24-year-old safety will be ready to reprise his starting role alongside Kevin Byard. Hooker has logged 41 tackles, three passes defended and an interception across eight games this season, and his return will be a big boost as Tennessee looks to secure the 2022 AFC South title against the Jaguars.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Dylan Cole: Will return against Jags
Rotowire
Cole (ankle) is active for Saturday's game against the Jaguars.
Cole has been sidelined with an ankle injury since Week 15, but he will return for a pivotal Week 18 matchup against the Jaguars. Prior to going down, Cole served a key role among Tennessee's linebacker corps and had tallied 62 total tackles and a sack across 14 games.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Kristian Fulton: Good to go Saturday
Rotowire
Fulton (groin) has been ruled active for Saturday's game against the Jaguars.
Fulton has missed the last four games while dealing with a groin injury, though he'll return heading into this win-or-go-home Week 18 contest. The 24-year-old should reprise his starting cornerback role opposite Roger McCreary.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Amani Hooker: Status up in the air for Week 18
Rotowire
Hooker (knee) is listed as questionable ahead of Saturday's game versus the Jaguars.
Hooker opened Week 18 prep with back-to-back limited sessions before sitting out the Titans' final practice Thursday. Nevertheless, it appears he'll still have a chance to play and suit up for the first time since Week 14. Expect Hooker to reprise his starting role at strong safety if he is ultimately ruled active 90 minutes prior to Saturday's 8:15 pm E.T. kickoff.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Kristian Fulton: Questionable to play Week 18
Rotowire
Fulton (groin) is considered questionable to play ahead of Saturday's regular-season finale against Jacksonville.
Fulton has not suited up since suffering a groin injury during the Week 13 loss to Philadelphia, though he managed to log three straight limited practices for the first time during Week 18 prep. The third-year cornerback has recorded 43 tackles, five passes defended and an interception over 10 games this season, and he'll likely reprise a starting role if he returns to the field Saturday versus Jacksonville.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Dylan Cole: Chance to play Week 18
Rotowire
Cole (ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against Jacksonville.
Cole has been sidelined since Week 15 while dealing with an ankle injury. However, he did return to practice with three limited sessions during Week 18 prep, leaving him with a chance to return for Saturday's pivotal regular-season finale. Cole played at least 78 percent of defensive snaps from Weeks 12 to 14, so his availability could provide some stability for Tennessee's injury-riddled linebacker corps Week 18.
