The Tennessee Titans are back on the practice field, working toward their Week 7 matchup with the Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, ahead of the session, head coach Robert Saleh faced more than questions on the Browns; he had to address the aftermath of the Jordan Elliott situation.
Saleh stood tall before the media and was open and transparent about what led to the decision to release the defensive tackle, as well as his feelings about Elliott as a man, as a father, and what could be next for him.
Clip of #Titans coach Robert Saleh standing up for Jordan Elliott despite a “terrible lapse in judgment.” Saleh notes players recently have taken their own lives. While not saying Elliott is in that mindset, Saleh is mindful this could’ve been a “cry for help.”
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 21, 2026
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“Here’s what I’ll say, guys. I think the NFL organization did an outstanding job pausing, which I think everyone needs to do in this situation. With regard to the news that Jordan had a gun, and the reason why I think the NFL and the organization did an outstanding job is that this is a man who is a father, a great husband,” Saled said. “He’s never committed a crime in his entire life, and he pulled a gun in the parking lot.
"And the first question that I think everyone forgets to ask is: Why would a great man, a great father, a man who shows up on time every day, works his ass off every day, contributes the way he’s supposed to contribute, is well liked in the locker room? Why did he go off the rails and grab a gun? And to me, those are small signs of a cry for help; if you, in terms of, obviously there’s something greater happening, and I thought the team in the NFL did an outstanding job with regard to pausing and asking those questions and checking every single box with regard to getting him the help that he needs.”
While he didn’t get into the weeds, he reminded everyone that he views Elliott as a good man who, in a moment, had a terrible lapse in judgment that was more a cry for help than a criminal act.
Now Elliott will be free to get the help he may need, and there is little doubt that, after hearing Saleh and from some of his teammates, he will have all the support he needs.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans' Robert Saleh opens up on Jordan Elliott incident