Breaking news: Titans sign 40-year-old P Thomas Morstead

Titans Turn to 40-Year-Old Punter Thomas Morstead After Townsend Injury

NASHVILLE, Tenn. The Tennessee Titans have turned to one of the most experienced specialists in NFL history to address an unexpected crisis at punter, signing 40-year-old Thomas Morstead to the practice squad on Wednesday following a knee injury to starter Tommy Townsend. The move, first reported by the team’s official website, comes just days after Townsend went down in the first half of Tennessee’s 27-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Townsend was unable to return, forcing kicker Joey Slye into emergency punting duties. Slye managed one punt for 42 yards, but the situation underscored the urgency for the Titans (1-6) as they prepare for a road matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

For Morstead, the signing represents a remarkable 18th season of professional football and a return to a familiar coaching staff. Titans head coach Robert Saleh was on the New York Jets’ staff during Morstead’s tenure there in 2021 and 2023-2024, and the two also crossed paths in San Francisco. That familiarity likely played a role in the decision to bring in a punter who will turn 41 in March rather than a younger, less proven option.

“Tommy is still hurting from the game,” Saleh told reporters earlier this week. “We’re still working through the week to see if he can make it. We signed a punter just in case”.

Morstead’s resume is nothing short of extraordinary for a specialist. Originally a fifth-round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2009 out of SMU, he spent 12 seasons in New Orleans, winning a Super Bowl ring as a rookie and earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors in 2012. Over 272 career regular-season games, he has punted 1,004 times for an average of 46.7 yards and a net average of 41.3 yards. Perhaps most impressively, he has had only one punt blocked in his entire career, a testament to his technique and consistency, dating back to 2011.

His journey through the league has been extensive. After leaving the Saints following the 2020 season, Morstead has suited up for the Jets (2021, 2023-2024), Atlanta Falcons (2021), Miami Dolphins (2022), and San Francisco 49ers (2025). Most recently, he had a brief stint on the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad earlier this season as insurance for an injury to their starter. In 2025 with the 49ers, he averaged 43.6 yards per punt on 44 attempts, pinning 22 inside the 20-yard line. The Titans’ special teams situation is now a waiting game. Townsend’s knee injury is not yet fully diagnosed in terms of a timeline, and the team has not placed him on injured reserve, suggesting there is hope he can return in the near term. Morstead’s presence on the practice squad provides a veteran safety net without requiring an immediate roster spot. If Townsend cannot go on Sunday against the Bengals, Tennessee can elevate Morstead for game day. The signing also highlights the harsh realities of a 1-6 season. With the playoffs already a distant hope, the Titans are managing injuries pragmatically, avoiding long-term commitments while ensuring they can field a competent unit. Morstead, a consummate professional who has seen nearly everything the league can offer, fits that bill perfectly. He is not a long-term solution, but for a team in need of stability at a critical field-position position, he is a reliable stopgap. For Morstead, the opportunity is another chapter in a career that has defied the typical lifespan of an NFL punter. Most specialists are fortunate to last a decade; Morstead is in his 18th year, still averaging a respectable distance and, more importantly, still drawing interest from teams that value consistency. Whether he punts another ball in a regular-season game or simply serves as insurance for a few weeks, his presence in Nashville signals that the Titans are not willing to let a special teams injury derail the remainder of their schedule. The Titans will release their final injury report later this week, which will clarify Townsend’s availability. Until then, Morstead will practice, learn the snap timing with long snapper Morgan Cox, and wait. It is a role he has played before, veteran insurance, a steady hand, and one he embraces. In a league that often discards aging specialists without a second thought, the Titans are betting that 40 years of experience is worth more than a younger leg.