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(AP) -- Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh confirmed Wednesday that defensive tackle Jordan Elliott was released after pulling a gun in the parking lot of the team facility but said it was a “terrible lapse in judgment that I recognize as a call for help more than a criminal act.”
The Titans had announced Tuesday that Elliott was released, but said only that it came after his involvement in an unspecified incident at the team’s facility five days earlier.
A person briefed on the incident told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Elliott had a gun in his car and went to the parking lot to retrieve it after a dispute with another player. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the incident is being reviewed.
Speaking to reporters, Saleh defended Jordan’s character. “Unfortunately, rules are rules with regard to guns on property, and sometimes it’s far greater than the knee-jerk reaction of kicking somebody when they’re down,” the coach said.
“He’s a good man. Made a terrible, had a terrible lapse in judgment that I recognize as a call for help more than a criminal act,” Saleh added. “He’s never committed a crime in his entire life and he pulled a gun, in the parking lot.”
Right tackle JC Latham, who was involved in the altercation with Elliott on the practice field, called the episode an unfortunate situation.
“I don’t really have too much to say about it,” Latham said Wednesday. “There ain’t never been no bad blood between us two. We were here on the summer getting treatment. Before that, we hung out whenever we were in the same city together. We actually had never had an argument leading up to it.”
Elliott appeared in five games this season with one start and had 11 tackles. He followed Saleh to Nashville after a two-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played in 31 games with 29 starts.
The 6-foot-4 defensive tackle was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2020 draft. He spent his first four seasons in Cleveland before signing a two-year, $7 million deal with San Francisco.
Tennessee added him as a free agent in the offseason on a two-year, $8 million deal.
Steelers bring back veteran WR Valdes-Scantling
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Marquez Valdes-Scantling is back with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers signed the veteran wide receiver to their practice squad on Tuesday ahead of a trip to Paris to take on New Orleans.
The 32-year-old Valdes-Scantling spent a portion of the 2025 season in Pittsburgh, catching 10 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown in five games before adding three receptions in a first-round playoff loss to Houston.
Pittsburgh is in need of help at wide receiver after Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson were both placed on injured reserve in the past week, leaving little experienced depth behind DK Metcalf and rookie Germie Bernard, who combined for 22 catches in a comeback win over Tampa Bay on Sunday.
The Steelers are Valdes-Scantling’s third team in less than two months. He was released by Dallas in late August then signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in September, catching two passes for 22 yards in three games before being released last week.
Valdes-Scantling has a history with Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers going back to their time together in Green Bay. Valdes-Scantling had 123 receptions in four seasons with the Packers from 2018-21.
Falcons sign Dalton as backup QB
ATLANTA (AP) -- The Atlanta Falcons signed veteran quarterback Andy Dalton and released backup Cooper Rush on Monday.
Dalton is expected to join Tua Tagovailoa as the top backups to starter Michael Penix Jr. The signing was announced one day after the Falcons’ 31-23 loss to Chicago.
Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said general manager Ian Cunningham “is always looking at ways that we feel like we can add to the roster and Andy was available. So as simple as that.”
Philadelphia released Dalton on Oct. 9 after he threw an interception on his only attempt as Jalen Hurts’ backup.
Dalton, 38, was acquired by the Eagles from Carolina, where he made seven starts in three seasons, on March 18.
Dalton was a second-round pick by Cincinnati in the 2011 draft. He made three Pro Bowls during nine seasons with the Bengals and also played for Dallas, Chicago and New Orleans.
Dalton is 84-83-2 as a starter. He has completed 62.6% of his passes for 39,763 yards, 254 touchdowns with 152 interceptions in 16 seasons.
Rush, 32, was 0-2 as Atlanta’s starter. He was pressed into the starting role with Penix continuing his recovery from his 2025 knee surgery and with Tagovailoa ruled out with an oblique injury. In the losses to Carolina and Pittsburgh to open the season, Rush completed 22 of 39 passes for 229 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.
Penix has started the past four games for the Falcons (2-4), who play San Francisco on Sunday.
Tagovailoa likely will remain the No. 2 quarterback against the 49ers.
“I think at this point we’re just trying to get Andy up to speed,” Stefanski said. “He’s learning people’s names and learning the system. So all those types of things we’ll work through. But very pleased with that group in total.”