NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans announced the release of three-time Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams on Thursday, coinciding with his 29th birthday. This decision came after Adams was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list over the weekend due to a hip issue.

Adams had been sidelined for the Titans’ game against Miami and was officially categorized as out with the hip injury. In the three appearances he made for Tennessee, he started in one game and recorded just a single tackle during the team’s sole victory at Miami on September 30.

Originally drafted in the first round by the New York Jets in 2017, Adams signed a one-year contract with the Titans right before training camp commenced in July. His decision to join the Titans was influenced by the familiar faces on the coaching staff, including Dennard Wilson, his former secondary coach at the Jets, as well as safeties coach Steve Jackson and linebackers coach Frank Bush. Additionally, he found comfort in reuniting with former Seattle safety Quandre Diggs, who was already part of the Titans roster.

The standout from LSU began his NFL career by starting every game for his first two seasons with the Jets. Throughout his career, he maintained a streak of starting every game when healthy until this season, but after only three seasons in New York, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 2020 where he was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl that same year. However, injuries limited him to just 10 games over the past two seasons with Seattle.

In March, both Adams and Diggs were released by the Seahawks, a decision that incurred nearly $20 million in dead cap costs for the team as they opted not to wait until after June 1 for the moves.

Diggs has since started all five games this season for the Titans after joining the team during the offseason, playing alongside Amani Hooker. When asked if he had been in contact with Adams, Diggs noted that he speaks with his friend regularly but chose not to divulge details about Adams’ situation with the Titans.

“All I could do is be there for my brother, you know?” Diggs expressed. “That’s all I can do. That’s all I will do. Whatever’s going on, you got to stay internal. And, you know, they’ll figure that out.”

As of now, the Titans boast one of the NFL’s toughest defenses, allowing the fewest total yards and passing yards among all teams. In the last game against Indianapolis, seven starters were newly acquired this offseason, including Diggs.