The Titans have agreed to terms with free agent linebacker Nick Dzubnar, per Jim Wyatt. It’s a reunion for Dzubnar, who spent the entire 2020 season in Tennessee.
Terms of the deal have not been released.
This signing is likely a reaction to the team’s poor showing on special teams in Atlanta on Friday night. The Falcons returned six kicks for a total of 144 yards, good for an average of 24 yards per return. They also returned three punts for 33 yards. Dzubnar led the Titans in special teams stops last season with 13.
Dzubnar has been an excellent special teams player throughout his career, and it was more of the same in Tennessee last season. If he makes the final roster, Dzubnar could provide the same special teams ability in 2021 that he did a year ago. Dzubnar is listed as an inside linebacker, but rarely saw playing time there last season. Interestingly enough, Dzunbar saw the majority of his defensive snaps in the team’s biggest game of the season, the playoff loss to the Ravens. The Titans went with a smaller front seven in that contest, in an effort to get more athletic players on the field that could help hold Lamar Jackson’s running ability in check.
The Titans have a strong group at inside linebacker that includes Jayon Brown, Rashaan Evans, David Long Jr., and rookie third-round pick Monty Rice. It’s tough to see Dzubnar factoring into this rotation, but we can see him making the final roster as the team looks to improve their special teams units.
