Tag: A.J. Moore

Titans’ Mike Vrabel: We have to punt better in 2022

Vrabel also expressed confidence in the special teams gunners the Titans have added this offseason.

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Often lost in the sauce of everything that went on with the Tennessee Titans in 2021 was the down year punter Brett Kern had.

Kern, who has always been as good and reliable as they come, missed three games due to injury for the second straight season after not having missed a single contest in any of his first 13 years in the NFL.

More importantly, he posted his worst gross (44.8) and net (40.4) punt yards average since the 2016 campaign, ranking 18th and 15th in those two categories, respectively.

Kern, who accounted for the second-biggest cap hit among punters in the NFL last season, was thought to be a cut candidate in 2022; however, the Titans were able to re-work his deal and lower his cap hit by $1 million.

While down at the owners meetings in Florida this week, head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged that 2021 wasn’t Kern’s best season, and he also stated that Tennessee needs to do a better job punting the football in 2022.

The Titans added a pair of players who have thrived as special teams gunners in the past in running back Trenton Cannon and defensive back A.J. Moore. Cannon could also factor in to the return game, and Moore will double as a reserve safety.

As for Kern, he could be looking at his last season in the two-tone blue. The 36-year-old will be in the final year of his contract in 2022.

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Contract details for Titans’ one-year deal with DB A.J. Moore

A look at the breakdown of DB A.J. Moore’s contract with the Titans, which includes two void years.

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During the first week of free agency, the Tennessee Titans signed defensive back A.J. Moore to a fully guaranteed one-year deal worth $2.5 million — and now we have the details of that deal.

According to Over The Cap, Moore will account for a cap hit of $1.6 million in 2022. The Titans were able to keep that cap hit lower than the total value of the deal thanks to a pair of void years tacked on to the end of it.

So, Moore will cost Tennessee $833,335 in dead money in 2023, and another $416,668 in 2024. The fact that the Titans went through all of this for a player who won’t have a significant role shows they value him.

A former undrafted free agent signing, Moore comes to the Titans after spending four years with the Houston Texans, and he already has a connection to Titans defensive backs coach, Anthony Midget.

Moore will serve as depth at the safety position, but his primary role will be as a key contributor on special teams, where he thrived in Houston.

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New Tennessee Titans DB A.J. Moore: 3 things to know

Three things to know about one of the newest Titans, DB A.J. Moore.

The Tennessee Titans made their second signing from outside the team this offseason when it reportedly agreed to terms with former Houston Texans defensive back, A.J. Moore.

Moore’s deal will pay him a fully guaranteed $2.5 million for one year, which means he’s likely more than just some camp competition.

The 26-year-old appeared in 55 games (five starts) over four seasons with the Texans and tallied 69 combined tackles (two for loss), one sack, one pass defended, two forces fumbles and one fumble recovered.

Let’s take a deeper dive on one of Tennessee’s newest additions by taking a look at three things to know about Moore.

Grading Titans’ moves from Day 2 of legal tampering period

A look at the three moves the Titans made on Tuesday, with a grade for each.

The Tennessee Titans made a trio of moves on Tuesday, the second day of the legal tampering period of free agency.

Tennessee started off the day by releasing veteran cornerback Janoris Jenkins, a move that was fully expected.

The team then went on to agree to terms with its second outside free agent in former Houston Texans defensive back, A.J. Moore. Finally, the Titans reportedly declined to tender fullback Khari Blasingame.

One pending free agent who was lost to another team was running back D’Onta Foreman, who agreed to terms with the Carolina Panthers. My thoughts on why the Titans didn’t re-sign him are here.

With Day 2 of the legal tampering period in the books, and the official start of free agency coming on March 16 at 4 p.m. ET, here’s a look at how we graded Tennessee’s moves from Tuesday.

Note: Follow along with our tracker for all of the Titans’ latest moves.

Titans sign former Texans safety A.J. Moore to 1-year contract

The Tennessee Titans have added another former Houston Texans player in safety A.J. Moore.

The Tennessee Titans have added another former Houston Texans player to their roster.

According to Aaron Wilson from the Pro Football Network, the Titans have signed safety A.J. Moore to a one-year contract.

The former 2018 undrafted free agent from Ole Miss played 55 career games for the Texans, starting in five of them. Moore collected 69 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, 1.0 sack, a pass breakup, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

The 5-11, 202-pound defensive back was predominantly used in a special teams role for the Texans, although he saw playing time on defense. In 2021, Moore 44 defensive snaps compared to 264 special teams snaps.

Moore’s biggest year on defense was in 2020 when he played 356 defensive snaps along with 188 on special teams.

The Texans re-signed safety Terrence Brooks and added former Cleveland Browns safety M.J. Stewart. Justin Reid agreed to a three-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Titans agree to terms on one-year deal with DB A.J. Moore

The Titans have reportedly agreed to terms with DB A.J. Moore.

The Tennessee Titans have reportedly agreed to terms with former Houston Texans defensive back, A.J. Moore, according to multiple reports. The details of the contract are not yet known.

Moore is the second pending free agent from outside the organization the Titans have signed since the legal tampering period began, along with offensive lineman Jamarco Jones.

A former undrafted free agent signing of the Texans out of Mississippi, Moore played in 55 games (five starts) over four seasons in Houston.

He has a connection with Titans defensive backs coach, Anthony Midget, who was Houston’s assistant secondary coach from 2014-17, and then secondary coach from 2018-19.

Moore played predominantly on special during his time with the Texans. He saw a career-high 356 defensive snaps in 2020, but never saw more than 44 in any other season. The 26-year-old saw 85 percent (264) of Houston’s special teams snaps in 2021.

In all, Moore has tallied 69 combined tackles (two for loss), one sack, and one pass defended during his four-year career. If he makes the roster, Moore figures to factor in as depth at safety and will contribute on special teams.

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Texans swap S A.J. Moore, WR Danny Amendola on COVID-19 reserve

The Houston Texans swapped safety A.J. Moore and receiver Danny Amendola on the COVID-19 reserve.

The Houston Texans swapped two players on the COVID-19 reserve Thursday.

The Texans announced they have placed receiver Danny Amendola on the COVID-19 reserve. However, Houston was able to take safety A.J. Moore off the COVID-19 reserve the same day.

Houston has been without the services of Amendola since Week 12 against the New York Jets as the former Woodlands product had arthroscopic knee surgery. The Texans activated Amendola off injured reserve ahead of Week 16 against the Los Angeles Chargers, but he was declared inactive for the game.

Moore has played in 10 games this season and has collected eight combined tackles and forced a fumble.

Texans place 3 players on COVID-19 reserve among other roster moves

The Houston Texans have placed three players on the COVID-19 reserve along with other roster moves for Week 15.

The Houston Texans have placed three players on the COVID-19 reserve in safety A.J. Moore, linebacker Christian Kirksey, and defensive end DeMarcus Walker.

All three players will miss the Jacksonville Jaguars game.

According to coach David Culley, the Texans’ protocols for COVID-19 are based on what the NFL requires.

“The changes we’ve made (are) the changes that the NFL requires us to make,” Culley told reporters Wednesday. “Usually all those changes come down from the league office, and once the league office gives us those changes, then we go by those changes. There’s really not anything else we can do. I think our people here, our staff do a great job of everything that we need to do to prevent this thing from happening.

“All of our guys are vaccinated and it’s still happening. It’s happening across the league. Obviously, this past week and these past couple of days, there’s been a little bit more outbreak.”

The Texans also designated defensive end Jordan Jenkins for return from injured reserve. Jenkins had been placed on injured reserve with a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Week 11.

Houston also placed receiver Davion Davis on injured reserve with a fractured leg.

The Texans also signed running back Darius Anderson to the practice squad. Anderson went to training camp with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2020, but was cut at the end of that August. Anderson spent the 2020 season with the Indianapolis Colts on their practice squad, but was waived at the end of 2021 preseason.

Texans vs. Jets Wednesday injury report: DE Jonathan Greenard limited

The Houston Texans released their first injury report for Week 12 against the New York Jets, and defensive end Jonathan Geenard (foot) was limited.

The Houston Texans released their first injury report of Week 12 Wednesday as they gear up to play the New York Jets Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium.

Receivers Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks were non-participants as they were held out due to non-injury related reasons. The same goes for quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Cornerback Lonnie Johnson and receiver Davion Davis were also non-participants in practice as both were listed as having an illness.

Defensive end Jonathan Greenard, who missed last week’s game with a foot injury, was on the injured report as limited for the fourth straight practice. Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill (knee) and safety A.J. Moore (back) were also limited on Wednesday.

Running back Rex Burkhead was limited, although not for injury related reasons.

For the Jets, defensive end Shaq Lawson was limited with a wrist injury.

For more information on New York’s injury report, check out the Jets Wire.

Texans place tender on safety A.J. Moore

The Houston Texans have placed a tender on safety A.J. Moore.

Nick Caserio mentioned the Houston Texans’ free agent strategy will be to hit “singles and doubles,” and it appears the new general manager got on base with his own free agent.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans have submitted a restricted free agent tender on safety A.J. Moore. With this move, the Texans will have the right of refusal should Moore sign with another team in free agency.

If not, Moore will be allowed to walk. The 25-year-old defensive back is set to make $2.1 million if he remains with the Texans this season.

“There is no other place I would want to be,” Moore told reporters on Jan. 1. “I love Houston. Like I was saying how crazy this business is, I hate that people may have to leave and things like that. I love the staff that we have and everyone that contributed. I love it here in Houston and I want to be here. I would love to get a long-term deal done with these guys.”

During the 2020 season, Moore appeared in 11 games where he recorded a career-best 35 tackles (21 solo hits) and 1.0 sack. In his third season, Moore allowed 66.7 percent of passes to be completed in coverage on 15 targets.