Titans to release 3-time Pro Bowl punter Kern

The Tennessee Titans informed longtime punter Brett Kern that they are releasing him, the team announced on Monday.

Kern, 36, has punted for the Titans since 2009 and has been selected to three Pro Bowls (2017-19) during his 13 seasons with the franchise. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2019. He averaged 44.8 yards per punt last season.

“Brett embodies everything we look for in players for the Tennessee Titans,” general manager Jon Robinson said in a statement. “He has been at the top of his game for a long time in this league, has been an outstanding leader for us, and has been an excellent representation of the Titans in our community. I’m blessed to have worked with him, and on behalf of the entire organization, we wish him all the best moving forward.”

Kern said in a statement posted to social media that “it has been an honor and a privilege to wear the two toned blue for the past 13 years.”

Thank you Titans Family pic.twitter.com/Z7jFFQIJWs

— Brett Kern (@brettkern6) August 29, 2022

Kern, who re-signed with the Titans in March, was set to earn a base salary of $2.1 million this season, and $900,000 of his contract was guaranteed. The Titans will save $300,000 on their salary cap but will carry a dead-money charge of $1.55 million.

Ryan Stonehouse, an undrafted free agent signing from Colorado State, was competing with Kern and appears to have won the team’s punting job. He is scheduled to earn a base salary of $705,000 this season.

Stonehouse, 23, averaged 50.2 yards on 13 punts this preseason with a long of 68. Kern averaged 49.6 yards on five punts and had a long of 58 but did not punt in the Titans’ final preseason game Saturday.

“I knew it was different when I first saw him punt a ball in April,” Kern said of Stonehouse after the final preseason game. “I’ve been in the league a long time and seen about three or four people hit a ball like he did. I’m beyond blessed for the years I been here and the friendships I’ve made and the brothers I’ve had for the rest of my life I’m thankful for that.”

The Titans also released safety Adrian Colbert, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Kern isn’t the only notable punter about to be released as NFL teams trim down to the 53-man limit by Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Denver Broncos punter Sam Martin, 32, will be released after refusing to take a pay cut from his $2.25 million salary, a source told ESPN’s Jeff Legwold. The Broncos will save $2.255 million on their salary cap with the move. Corliss Waitman, who is scheduled to make $825,000, will do the punting for the Broncos this season.

ESPN’s Turron Davenport contributed to this report.