Titans release defensive tackle Jordan Elliott after incident at team facility

Jordan Elliott, then of the Cleveland Browns, on the field during a game against Washington in Cleveland, Ohio, in September 2020 — All-Pro Reels / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Summary

The Tennessee Titans released defensive tackle Jordan Elliott on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, citing an incident at the team facility on Oct. 15.
The team has not said what the incident was and says it will have no further comment.
Elliott missed the Week 6 win over Indianapolis; coach Robert Saleh had cited "personal stuff" on Oct. 16.
Elliott signed a two-year deal in the offseason, reported at up to $8.5 million.

What the Titans have said

The Tennessee Titans released defensive tackle Jordan Elliott on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, saying there had been an incident at the team's facility involving the player. According to reporting from ESPN, the team's statement said "there was an incident at our team facility involving Jordan Elliott." The episode took place on Thursday, Oct. 15, and the club moved to cut him five days later.^[1]

The Titans said they will have no further comment on the matter, according to Titans Wire, part of USA Today Sports. The team has not described the nature of the incident, who else was involved, or what its review found. ESPN reported that a team source called the decision unanimous and said the NFL is aware of the situation.^{[2] [1]}

The absence that preceded it

Elliott did not play in Tennessee's Week 6 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Titans Wire reported he was ruled out on Friday, Oct. 16, for personal reasons after not appearing on the injury report earlier in the week, and that the Titans won the game for their first victory of 2026. ESPN reported he did not travel to Indianapolis.^{[2] [1]}

A to Z Sports reported that head coach Robert Saleh said before that Friday's practice that Elliott was "dealing with some personal stuff." The same outlet noted that it is a writer's reading, not something the team has confirmed, that the comment pointed to a situation already developing. Whether the personal matter and the facility incident are connected has not been stated by the team.^[3]

Contract and playing record

Elliott, 28, signed a two-year contract with Tennessee in free agency after two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where Saleh had been defensive coordinator. ESPN and Titans Wire put the value at up to $8.5 million; A to Z Sports described it as $8 million. None of the reports gave the guaranteed portion or how much money is affected by the release.^{[1] [2] [3]}

He appeared in five games for the Titans this season and started one, recording 11 tackles, according to Titans Wire. ESPN reported that Tennessee had not signed a replacement and that Timmy Horne was elevated from the practice squad and played 24 snaps in Elliott's place against the Colts.^{[2] [1]}

What is not known

Not publicly confirmed: what the incident was, who was involved, what the team's review concluded, whether the NFL will impose any discipline, and what Elliott's side is. No statement from Elliott or his representatives appeared in the reports reviewed. Any link between the release and his earlier absence rests on timing alone.^{[2] [1] [3]}

The Titans, who were 1-5 after the Colts game according to A to Z Sports, host the Cleveland Browns in Week 7, per Titans Wire.^{[2] [3]}

Reporting sources

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