Report: Tennessee Titans make unexpected decision on Julio Jones

The official start to the 2022 NFL offseason is underway, and there is already major news being reported surrounding the Tennessee Titans and receiver Julio Jones. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Titans are planning on releasing the former All-Pro receiver.

The Titans took a huge gamble last season trading for Jones, who was disgruntled with the Atlanta Falcons. Unfortunately, that move did not pan out the way Tennessee expected, and now it appears that the two are on the verge of a split. Jones had 31 receptions, for 434 yards, and just one touchdown in the 10 games he played in last season.

The Titans plan on releasing Jones using the June-1 designation, it allows the Titans to recoup $11.513 million in salary cap space for 2022. Despite the designation, Jones is still a free agent and can sign anywhere immediately if he chooses to do so.

ESPN’s Diana Russini was the first to break the news.

Titans cut Janoris Jenkins

As the NFL makes plenty of roster decisions this week in free agency, the Tennessee Titans made a surprising decision with defensive back Janoris Jenkins. The ten-year veteran cornerback was cut by the Titans on Tuesday, leaving Jenkins without a team currently and opening additional cap space for the Titans. The former Florida star played three years with the Gators before beginning his NFL career with the St. Louis Rams in 2012 as a second-round draft pick.

The move appears to be a purely financial decision as the Titans will reportedly save $6.9 million on this years cap, even with a $3.2 million dead cap charge.

Jenkins joined the Titans last season after spending a little over one season with the New Orleans Saints. Jenkins was selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, and after four years he joined the New York Giants. After another nearly-four year stint with New York he joined the Saints. Jenkins has played in 142 career games and has 27 interceptions, 124 passes defended and eight passes returned for touchdowns over his career.

The Titans are looking to clear up their secondary after giving up the eighth-most passing yards in the league per game with 245.2 yards. Pro Football Reference noted that quarterbacks throwing at Jenkins last season had a 61.1 percent completion rate and a 100.2 passer rating. The inability to lock down receivers could certainly have been a factor in the Titans decision to not bring him back for the second year of his contract.