Brett

Kern

Kern was cut by the Titans last season in training camp and briefly caught on with the Eagles, appearing in four games. An undrafted free agent out of Toledo in 2008, Kern was a three-time Pro Bowler and earned AP All-Pro honors in 2019. He averaged 45.9 yards per punt for his career and led the league with a 49.7 average in 2017.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Titans are going with rookie P Ryan Stonehouse, who drew praise from Titans coaches and beat writers during training camp. Kern, the team’s punter since 2009, will likely find his way onto another roster soon rather than later.

This looks like a straight pay cut with ESPN’s Field Yates reporting Kern will now make $2.2 million in 2022, which is $1 million less than he was scheduled to earn. The Titans still have some work to do on the cap if they want to be real players in free agency.

Based on the timeline, Kern was a close contact and not someone who tested positive. He’ll be ready to show off that big leg in Week 17 and the Titans’ potential playoff run.

Hopefully this does not portend more coronavirus issues for the Titans. Kern missed time earlier this season, and his Week 10 absence against the Colts led directly to a Titans loss after his fill-in performed disastrously.

The deal includes a $2.2 million signing bonus, which might not be wholly necessary for a punter. Kern had been heading into the final year of his contract. The Titans’ punter since 2009, Kern finished eighth in net-punting average (41.7) last season.

Kern ranked fifth in the NFL last season with an average of 46.8 yards per punt. His new deal will keep him with the Titans through 2019.

Kern says more muscle means more hangtime and consistency. We’re not sure if we buy that a punter really jacked himself up by 20 pounds, but it can’t hurt.

Amazingly, the Kern-for-Mitch Berger swap is the Broncos’ first in-season roster move of 2009. Most teams have signed multiple players off the street.

The release of Brett Kern comes next. Kern was 11th in the NFL with a 46.1-yard average, but his net was 34.5 and Denver was displeased with his low trajectory. Darren Sproles returned one of Kern’s Week 6 punts for a TD.