Titans' Bud Dupree Cited on Misdemeanor Assault Charge for Alleged Role in Fight
Jan 4, 2022
Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Bud Dupree (48) plays against the Buffalo Bills during an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Bud Dupree has been cited for misdemeanor assault and is due for booking in three weeks, per TMZ Sports.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said shoppers started arguing with an employee at a Nashville Walgreens on Sunday night, left and then returned with Dupree, who grabbed the employee and his phone, according to TMZ Sports.
Police said that led to a physical altercation before the linebacker left the store.
Video surfaced Tuesday showing what appears to be part of the altercation (Warning: Twitter video contains strong language):
"We are aware of the situation and are gathering additional information," the Titans said in a statement Monday.
Grant Gordon of NFL.com noted the altercation allegedly began when the male employee was filming Dupree with his phone. Police arrived after the University of Kentucky product had left the scene.
The male employee was treated for a cut on his forehead, while a female employee received treatment for a cut on her hand.
Dupree and the Titans beat the Miami Dolphins earlier that day.
He spent the first six years of his career on the Pittsburgh Steelers before Tennessee signed him to a five-year deal prior to the 2021 campaign.
The Titans finish their regular season against the Houston Texans in Week 18 and can clinch the AFC's No. 1 seed with a win.
Titans Clinch AFC South Title, 2022 NFL Playoff Berth After Colts' Loss to Raiders
Jan 2, 2022
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 12: Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Tennessee Titans celebrates after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on December 12, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
The Tennessee Titans clinched the AFC South title Sunday by virtue of the Indianapolis Colts' loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Titans have now reached the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, which is the longest streak in franchise history since it moved from Houston to Tennessee in 1997.
Tennessee has posted a winning record in each of Mike Vrabel's four seasons as head coach, and the team has not missed the postseason since going 9-7 in Vrabel's first campaign at the helm in 2016. The Titans are 11-5 in 2021.
It can be argued that Vrabel has done the most impressive work of his tenure this season because of injuries to key players.
Running back Derrick Henry, wide receivers A.J. Brown and Julio Jones, linebacker Bud Dupree and cornerback Caleb Farley are just a few of the players who have spent time on injured reserve.
That has forced the Titans to lean on unheralded players such as running backs D'Onta Foreman, Dontrell Hilliard and Jeremy McNichols, and wide receivers Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Chester Rogers.
The one true constant on offense has been veteran Ryan Tannehill, who entered Sunday with 3,327 yards, 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions on the season.
Tennessee has also benefited from the play of three key defensive players in linebacker Harold Landry, lineman Jeffery Simmons and safety Kevin Byard.
Landry and Simmons came into Sunday with 11 and 7.5 sacks, respectively, while Byard has recorded five interceptions.
The Titans shocked the football world two years ago when they made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game, but the Baltimore Ravens knocked them out in the wild-card round last season.
While the AFC is tightly packed and highly competitive, the Titans may have a chance to get over the hump and reach the Super Bowl if they can get some of their key players—such as Henry, who could reportedly return as early as next week—healthy before the start of the postseason.
Julio Jones, Bud Dupree Among 4 Titans Players Placed on COVID List Ahead of Week 17
Dec 27, 2021
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 24: Julio Jones #2 of the Tennessee Titans runs onto the field during introductions before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Nissan Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Chiefs 27-3. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
The Tennessee Titans placed wide receiver Julio Jones, linebacker Bud Dupree, defensive back Buster Skrine and wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on the COVID-19/reserve list Monday.
Meanwhile, they activated guard Rodger Saffold and defensive back Elijah Molden off the list.
The 2021 season hasn't gone according to plan forJones, who's on pace to have the worst year of his career. Through nine games, the seven-time Pro Bowler has caught 26 passes for 376 yards and zero touchdowns.
Jones was sidelined for nearly a month with a lingering hamstring injury, returning for the Titans' 20-0 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 12. One week later, though, he was forced to exit the team's 19-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers because of his hamstring.
Julio Jones has had a hall-of-fame career, but it appears his health is slowing him down
2011-19 Games missed: 18 out of 144 Rec Yards/Gm: 96.2
2020-21 Games missed: 13 out of 30* Rec Yards/Gm: 67.1
Meanwhile, the Titans defense may once again be without Dupree. The 28-year-old recently missed three games because of an abdominal injury. He returned earlier this month and has played in the past two games.
Tennessee (10-5) sits one game up on the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South. Also of note, the Titans trail the Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) by one game for the top spot in the AFC playoff picture.
Tennessee will host the Miami Dolphins (7-7) at Nissan Stadium on Sunday.
Report: Derrick Henry Could Return to Titans in Week 18 After Surgery on Foot Injury
Dec 27, 2021
FILE - Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) is shown on the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Indianapolis. Derrick Henry is just the biggest name in a revolving door that has seen the Titans make 19 moves putting players on injured reserve and play a NFL-high 80 different players _ 11 more than the next closest teams. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger, File)
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Tennessee Titans could get star running back Derrick Henry back from his foot injury sooner than initially expected.
OnMonday's episode of Good Morning Football (starts at 0:30 mark), NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Henry could return in Week 18 against the Houston Texans.
Henry hasn't played since the Titans' 34-31 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 31. He was diagnosed with a Jones fracture in his foot that required surgery.
ESPN's Dianna Russini reported Henry had the procedure on Nov. 2 and it "went well."
Head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters there was " absolutely" a chance that Henry could return at some point this season, but the team wasn't going to put a timetable on his comeback.
On Dec. 12, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Henry's rehab "is going so well that Henry is in line to return for the playoffs if Tennessee makes it in—or potentially Week 18 if the Titans face a win-and-in situation."
Henry was having an MVP-caliber season prior to his foot injury. The 27-year-old still leads the league with 117.1 rushing yards per game. He had 1,091 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns through Week 8.
In eight games with Henry, Tennessee's offense was averaging 377.1 yards and 28.4 points per game. Those numbers have dropped to 298.9 yards and 18.6 points per contest in seven games without Henry.
The Titans (10-5) can clinch their second straight AFC South title with a win or a Colts loss in either of the final two weeks of the regular season.
Tennessee hosts the Miami Dolphins on Sunday before wrapping up the regular season on Jan. 9 against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.
The Tennessee Titans missed A.J. Brown. The AFC South side's No. 1 wide receiver marked his return to the field with 11 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown...
Mike Vrabel on Win vs. 49ers: Titans' Funeral 'Was Supposed to Be Yesterday or Today'
Dec 24, 2021
Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
The Tennessee Titans aren't down for the count just yet, and head coach Mike Vrabel had some choice words following his team's 20-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night at Nissan Stadium.
Mike Vrabel: “The funeral for the Titans was supposed to be yesterday or today. We’re not dead yet.”
The Titans, who have struggled with injuries to key players such as Derrick Henry and Julio Jones this season, entered Thursday night having lost three of their last four games, including a 22-13 loss to the Houston Texans on Nov. 21.
The Titans began the second half down 10-0 before coming back to score 17 unanswered points. San Francisco tied the game at 17 with 2:20 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Tennessee kicker Randy Bullock nailed the game-winning field goal with four seconds remaining to seal the victory.
4️⃣4️⃣ YARDS AND THE KICK IS GOOD‼️
Randy Bullock puts the Titans on top in the final seconds 🙌
Thursday's win put the Titans one step closer to clinching a playoff spot. They can punch their ticket with an Indianapolis Colts loss Saturday. The Titans are now 10-5 on the season and own the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
A.J. Brown Takes Over as Titans Top Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers on Last-Second FG
Dec 24, 2021
Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) passes against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
The Tennessee Titans are on the verge of clinching the AFC South.
Tennessee defeated the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 in Thursday's showdown at Nissan Stadium despite going scoreless in the first half. A.J. Brown led the comeback effort before Randy Bullock kicked the winning 44-yard field goal for the victors, who improved to 10-5 and snapped a recent slump that saw them go 1-3 in their previous four games.
They will also clinch the division title if the Indianapolis Colts lose to the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.
THAT'S GAME! Tennessee comes back and WINS! #Titans
A solid showing from Deebo Samuel wasn't enough for the 49ers, who fell to 8-7 and saw their two-game winning streak end. They are still in the middle of a crowded NFC wild-card race that now features four teams with seven losses.
Notable Player Stats
Ryan Tannehill, QB, TEN: 22-of-29 passing for 209 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT; 3 carries for 22 yards
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, SF: 26-of-35 passing for 322 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, SF: 14 carries for 45 yards, 1 TD; 3 catches for 12 yards
Deebo Samuel, WR, SF: 9 catches for 159 yards; 5 carries for 32 yards
Titans' Second-Half Turnaround Spurs Victory
The Titans appeared to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders for much of the season, but injuries to Derrick Henry, Julio Jones and Brown, among others, caught up to them of late. However, Jones and Brown were back in the lineup Thursday as they looked to put some of the recent struggles behind them and move toward a division title.
Yet the offense did anything but click out of the gate even with the return of the pass-catchers.
Tennessee punted on all four of its first-half possessions as Ryan Tannehill only found success on short checkdowns and a long run from D'Onta Foreman was called back for a penalty. There were even boos from the crowd when a drive that started in San Francisco territory ended with yet another punt.
Fortunately for the Titans, their defense kept them within striking distance before everything switched after intermission.
Tennessee started the second half with a field goal and then tied the game by parlaying a turnover into a Foreman touchdown. It turned into the Brown show from there, as the talented playmaker came down with a jump ball on a free play, converted a key third down while perhaps getting away with offensive pass interference and then hauled in a go-ahead touchdown on the ensuing play.
While San Francisco came back to tie the game, the second-half offense for the Titans would not be denied.
Tannehill escaped the pocket for a long run into field-goal range, which set the stage for Bullock's winning kick. There was plenty to clean up from the first half, but the team that took the field in the second half looked playoff-ready.
49ers Collapse After Missed Chances
The 49ers may be behind the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams in the standings, but they entered Thursday's game looking every bit the part of Super Bowl contenders of late with a chance to build on their recent momentum against a fellow playoff contender.
They wasted no time doing just that with a beautiful nine-play, 75-yard first drive featuring surgical execution until Jeff Wilson Jr. capped it off with a score.
Yet the first half was largely defined by missed chances for the visitors, as Jimmy Garoppolo threw an interception in the end zone on San Francisco's second drive before he missed a wide-open Kyle Juszczyk for a potential touchdown on its third possession.
That third drive stalled with a field goal as the 49ers seized a 10-0 halftime lead on the back of their defense, but the offense failed to put the game away early when they had multiple chances to do just that.
Those missed chances became all the more crucial when Garoppolo threw another terrible interception and then missed Brandon Aiyuk on fourth down for a turnover on downs during a disastrous third quarter.
Despite all that, San Francisco's offense battled back to tie it in the final minutes when Samuel broke free to set up an Aiyuk touchdown.
It still wasn't enough, though, as the defense that kept the 49ers afloat when the offense was struggling to capitalize was unable to engineer a key stop down the stretch. A desperation lateral on the game's final play came up short, and the NFC West team was left to think about all those missed opportunities.
What's Next?
Both teams are home in Week 17 when the 49ers face the Houston Texans and the Titans play the Miami Dolphins.
Fantasy Alert: A.J. Brown Reportedly to Return from Injury, Play for Titans vs. 49ers
Dec 23, 2021
Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown is introduced before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Wide receiver A.J. Brown is coming back to give the Tennessee Titans' struggling offense a boost and potentially boost lineups for the fantasy postseason.
Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Cameron Wolfe, Brown is being activated off injured reserve and will play Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Titans announced Monday they designated Brown for return from IR. He originally suffered a chest injury during Tennessee's Week 11 loss to the Houston Texans.
Brown previously sat out the Titans' Week 4 loss to the New York Jets with a hamstring injury.
In 11 games this season, Brown leads the team in receptions (46), receiving yards (615) and is tied for the top spot in receiving touchdowns (three).
Tennessee has dealt with significant injuries to many of its key offensive players. Derrick Henry remains out after undergoing foot surgery in November to repair a Jones fracture.
Julio Jones doesn't have an injury designation after being a full participant in practice Wednesday, so he could be available against the 49ers. He only played 27 snaps last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers because of a hamstring issue.
If Jones and Brown are able to play, it will mark just the seventh time this season that both have appeared in the same game together.
Julio Jones Out for Titans vs. Steelers After Suffering Hamstring Injury
Dec 19, 2021
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Julio Jones (2) plays against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
The Tennessee Titans took a 13-3 halftime lead into the locker room of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it wasn't all good news for the AFC South team.
Wide receiver Julio Jones was ruled out for the remainder of the contest with a hamstring injury.
He did not finish with a single catch and had just one target before he exited.
Jones was placed on injured reserve earlier on Nov. 13 because of a hamstring ailment and just returned for last week's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars for the first time since Nov. 7. He posted four catches for 33 yards against Jacksonville.
The injury concerns have prevented the 32-year-old from living up to expectations during his first season with the Titans.
He was widely considered one of the best wide receivers in the league for much of his time on the Atlanta Falcons that lasted from 2011 through 2020. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection in Atlanta and led the league in receiving yards on two occasions.
This is yet another injury for a Titans team that is already without star running back Derrick Henry because of a broken foot.
Wide receiver A.J. Brown also hasn't played since Nov. 21, although he is eligible to return in Week 16 for the team's matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.
That eventual return will be even more important if Jones is sidelined again.
Derrick Henry Reportedly Working to Return From Foot Injury for Titans' Stretch Run
Dec 14, 2021
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) warms up on the field before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
Tennessee Titans star Derrick Henry is working toward a return for the final stretch of his team's season, according to the Tennesseean's Ben Arthur.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Sunday that Henry, who underwent surgery for a broken foot, was tentatively on track to make it back for the postseason if the Titans qualify.
So far, the sky hasn't fallen for Tennessee since the 2020 All-Pro was injured in a Week 8 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The team is 3-2 without him and occupies the second seed in the AFC at 9-4.
Still, the Titans' Super Bowl hopes likely hinge heavily on whether Henry is on the field by the time the playoffs roll around. They have the fourth-best moneyline (+800, bet $100 to win $800) at DraftKings Sportsbook to claim the AFC crown.
Despite missing the last five weeks, Henry is still fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (937), which says everything about his performance prior to breaking the bone in his foot. His 117.1 rushing yards per game are nearly 14 more than the next player (Jonathan Taylor, 103.7).
With the addition of Julio Jones, the Titans might have been looking to ease some of the burden on Henry. Instead, Jones has been limited to seven games, and his production (25 catches, 369 yards) is well below his usual standards.
As a result, Henry was on pace to break the single-season record for carries (416 by Larry Johnson in 2006) before factoring in the addition of a 17th game.
Derrick Henry's workload was off the charts. His 219 rushes were the most by a player in his team's first 8 games of a season in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/eyFKcp3dlz
If the 27-year-old can not only return, but also be the same kind of workhorse back on the ground in a few weeks, then the Titans could be poised for a second trip to the AFC title game in three seasons.
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