The Tennessee Titans informed longtime punter Brett Kern that they are releasing him, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
Kern, 36, has punted for the Titans since 2009 and has been selected to three Pro Bowls (2017-19) during his 13 seasons with the franchise. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2019. He averaged 44.8 yards per punt last season.
Kern, who re-signed with the Titans in March, was set to earn a base salary of $2.1 million this season, and $900,000 of his contract was guaranteed. The Titans will save $300,000 on their salary cap but will carry a dead-money charge of $1.55 million.
Ryan Stonehouse, an undrafted free agent signing from Colorado State, was competing with Kern and appears to have won the team’s punting job. He is scheduled to earn a base salary of $705,000 this season.
Stonehouse, 23, averaged 50.2 yards on 13 punts this preseason with a long of 68. Kern averaged 49.6 yards on five punts and had a long of 58 but did not punt in the Titans’ final preseason game Saturday.
“I knew it was different when I first saw him punt a ball in April,” Kern said of Stonehouse after the final preseason game. “I’ve been in the league a long time and seen about three or four people hit a ball like he did. I’m beyond blessed for the years I been here and the friendships I’ve made and the brothers I’ve had for the rest of my life I’m thankful for that.”
The Titans also released safety Adrian Colbert, a source told Schefter.
Kern isn’t the only notable punter about to be released as NFL teams trim down to the 53-man limit by Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Denver Broncos punter Sam Martin, 32, will be released after refusing to take a pay cut from his $2.25 million salary, a source told ESPN’s Jeff Legwold. The Broncos will save $2.255 million on their salary cap with the move. Corliss Waitman, who is scheduled to make $825,000, will do the punting for the Broncos this season.
ESPN’s Turron Davenport contributed to this report.