Titans punter Brett Kern thinks his Tennessee tenure may be over

AP file photo by Gene J. Puskar / Brett Kern has been punting for the Tennessee Titans since the 2009 season, and he was a Pro Bowl selection from 2017 to 2019, but he was in a close competition for the job this preseason with rookie Ryan Stonehouse. AP file photo by Gene J. Puskar / Brett Kern has been punting for the Tennessee Titans since the 2009 season, and he was a Pro Bowl selection from 2017 to 2019, but he was in a close competition for the job this preseason with rookie Ryan Stonehouse.

By TERESA M. WALKER / The Associated Press August 28, 2022 4 min read

NASHVILLE — Three-time Pro Bowl punter Brett Kern is the Tennessee Titans’ longest-tenured player and needs just four punts to become the 25th player in NFL history to notch 1,000 for his career.

Whether that happens with the Titans remains to be seen.

Tennessee claimed Kern off waivers from the Denver Broncos in 2009, and he locked down the position in Nashville, earning three Pro Bowl selections from 2017 to 2019, with the last of those accompanied by All-Pro first-team recognition (he was a second-team pick in 2017). But now the punter who ranks third in franchise history with 197 games played may wind up losing his job to an undrafted rookie from Colorado State with one of the strongest legs Kern has ever seen.

Kern watched from the sideline Saturday night as Ryan Stonehouse punted and was the holder on extra-point and field-goal attempts in a 26-23 win against the Arizona Cardinals to close the preseason.