The Tennessee Titans cut defensive lineman Jordan Elliott after he brought a gun to the team’s practice facility in a “terrible error of judgment,” officials said Wednesday.
Titans coach Robert Saleh defended Elliott and called his now-former player a “good man” who deserves another chance — but not in Tennessee.
“He is a good man (who) made a terrible error of judgment that I view as a cry for help more than a criminal act,” Saleh told reporters. “It’s unfortunate the way it happened.”
Union officials and Elliott’s agent could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.
It was not immediately clear what might have prompted Elliott to bring a gun to the team’s headquarters in Nashville.
Nashville police were not called and did not respond to the scene, the department said Wednesday.
“The league’s firearms policy prohibits any personnel from bringing a firearm into club facilities, stadiums and team hotels as well as on team planes or buses,” the NFL said in a statement to NBC News on Wednesday. “The club promptly informed the league of the matter which is currently under review.”
Elliott had played in Tennessee’s first five games this season before being declared inactive Sunday for “personal, non-injury-related” reasons.
Then on Tuesday, he left the team.
“On Thursday, October 15, there was an incident at our team facility involving Jordan Elliott,” according to a statement from the Titans.
“After our review of the incident, we have made the decision to remove Elliott from our roster. We will have no further comment on this matter.”
Elliott signed with Tennessee this past offseason, after two years with the San Francisco 49ers and four previous seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
Elliott’s move to Nashville resulted in a reunion between him and first-year Titans coach Saleh, who was the defensive coordinator at Santa Clara last season.
The coach said he hoped Elliott could sign with another team and would vouch for the player’s character.
“Unfortunately, the rules are about firearms on (team) property,” Saleh said.
“My message to 31 other teams would be: If you need a heck of a D tackle that can help you in the playoffs, call me. I’ll tell you everything you need to know about him.”
The 28-year-old Houston native played college football for the Texas Longhorns and Missouri Tigers before being selected by Cleveland in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
“At the end of the day, we’re all humans,” quarterback Cam Ward said. “We’re all with him. I mean, he’s a great person.”
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