The Tennessee Titans have released former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi and inside linebacker Joe Schobert, according to the NFL transactions page for Monday.
Adeniyi, who signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2018 out of Toledo, appeared in 32 games over three seasons for Pittsburgh with one start. Adeniyi followed Bud Dupree to Tennessee in free agency in March of 2021 — signing a one-year, $1 million deal. The Steelers declined to tender Adeniyi a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, which allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent.
In 2021, Adeniyi finished third on the team in special teams tackles (13), along with having a career-high 2.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, and 21 total tackles in 16 games for Tennessee. The Titans re-signed Adeniyi to another 1-year deal in the offseason.
Adeniyi has been hampered by a neck injury this season, which most likely contributed to his release. He was sidelined from Week 3 to 12 and was a healthy scratch for Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars after returning to play in the Week 13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He played 38 percent of the defensive snaps and 45 percent of special teams snaps against the Eagles. The Titans also fired general manager Jon Robinson last week, so Adeniyi could have been viewed as expendable with the front office move.
With T.J. Watt dealing with a slew of injuries and the Steelers not having great outside linebacker depth, it will be interesting to see if the Steelers are interested in bringing Adeniyi back. Malik Reed has been disappointing for the Steelers as the No. 3 outside linebacker and was a healthy scratch in Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Schobert, formally of the Jaguars, Browns, Broncos and Steelers, recorded 16 total tackles and a forced fumble in six games and one start with Tennessee. Schobert was a starter for the Steelers last year but was released in a salary cap-saving move has struggled to latch onto a team in 2022.
Both players will be subject to the NFL waivers process.