In what is a surprise move, the Tennessee Titans are reportedly set to part ways with starting defensive lineman Teair Tart.
According to Titans beat writer Paul Kuharsky, the relationship between Tart and the Titans has hit a breaking point, with Tart upset about his contract situation and the team believing he isn’t giving full effort.
Here are some of the details from Kuharsky’s report:
The Titans are parting ways with Teair Tart after season-long issues reached a breaking point. The defensive lineman’s been upset over his contract situation and the team is unsatisfied with his effort and attitude.
At his best during his four seasons, Tart was a key run-stuffer for the team. But his relationship with the Titans has tumbled this season as the feeling has been he could have gotten more playing time and been more effective if he’d gotten better conditioned.
Tart had been listed on the injury report with a “personal” issue the last two weeks. When asked about him on Friday before this report came out, head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters “not read too much into” Tart’s situation.
The surprise here comes from the fact that the Titans are letting Tart go now.
However, if you’ve been paying attention to Tart’s social media, you’d know he’s posted multiple cryptic tweets during the year that seemed to express displeasure with the $4.3 million tender the Titans placed on him.
While Tart has no doubt been an impact run defender, he hasn’t done much as a pass-rusher and concerns about his conditioning have been no secret, with defensive line coach Terrell Williams even mentioning Tart needed to improve in both areas this offseason in order to play more snaps.
The Florida International product continued to play the run well in 2023, but he hasn’t improved as a pass-rusher and he’s playing the exact same percentage of snaps he did the two years prior.
With Tart gone, the Titans are now down three defensive linemen. Jeffery Simmons is set to miss another game at least and Kyle Peko is out for the season.
Tennessee poached a pair of defensive linemen off practice squads a few days back in Quinton Bohanna and Keondre Coburn. The Titans also have Denico Autry, Jaleel Johnson and rookie TK McLendon on the active roster and Marlon Davidson and Ross Blacklock on the practice squad.