The Nicholas Petite-Frere Suspension And The Tennessee Titans

Tennessee Titans right tackle Nicholas Petite-Frere has been suspended for six games, and the team now must move to find a suitable replacement during that time.

George Walker IV / Tennessean.com-USA TODAY NETWORK

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Titans face a bit of a dilemma as they move closer to the opening of their 2023 training camp. 

In the wake of the recent suspension of starting right tackle Nicholas Petite-Frere, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, his staff, and general manager Ran Carthon have some decisions to make, with a narrowing window to do so.

For those who might have been hiding under a rock or on vacation without internet availability, the second-year Titan was suspended six games by the NFL late last week for violating the league's gambling rules. 

According to reports, his suspension came when he allegedly placed a bet with an online sportsbook from inside the Titans team facility, a clear violation of league rules. 

While there has been much consternation and debate about the rule itself, it is a rule, and it is one that Petite-Frere should have known and should not have violated, period.

There's an old legal saying, ignorance of the law is no excuse. That applies to league rules as well. And while a reason could be made for a rookie two weeks into the league not knowing this, the ability to claim ignorance diminishes for a player entering his second season.     

Now that the suspension is in place, and despite his ability to attend training camp and play in the preseason, the Titans must find a solution for who will replace him during the arguably toughest stretch of this season's schedule. 

However, before we get into that, there is something that I feel the need to address now. 

It's not debatable that Petite-Frere was less than stellar as a rookie starter in 2022; however, it might not have all been his fault. 

Despite some on social media claiming that Dennis Daley "covered up" how bad his rookie bookend was playing because of how bad Daley was, Petite-Frere was somewhat worse than his numbers might suggest. 

However, I think the rookie was as bad as he was in part because of Daley. 

No one in their right mind will defend Daley and his play last season. Still, because he was so pathetic, he caused the Titans to take help away from the rookie and put it on his side to protect their quarterbacks' blindside. That left an inexperienced rookie starting his first season in the league exposed to fend for himself more than he might have been with good play from his left side. 

Of course, this is my opinion, and as we know, everyone has one and is entitled to it, so I won't stand on this hill and argue to infinity. 

As for how the Titans might choose to deal with the suspension for the first six games, there are two options currently on the roster who could get the first chance to fill the void.   

Sixth-year veteran Jamarco Jones, who the Titans seem to like, could be the easiest answer to this issue, though he has never been a regular starter at any point in his career. Still, he has been in the league and has the strength and ability to fill in, and he has been in Tim Kelly's new offense as long as the rest of those players currently on the roster. 

Then there are rookies Jaeyln Duncan and John Ojukwo, combined with zero NFL snaps. Duncan, who the Titans selected in this year's NFL Draft, spent time at both left and right tackle during the offseason program and could also be thrown to the wolves, as was the case with Petite-Frere last season. 

As for Ojukwo, he entered the league as an undrafted rookie, though he did have a draftable grade entering the draft. He is more of a project than Duncan and is a longshot here, but worth mentioning because his potential role on this team could improve while Petite-Frere is away. 

Of course, there is also the chance that Carthon and Vrabel might opt for a veteran free agent to fill the spot or potentially upgrade it even after the suspension ends. 

The leading name in the club hose for that is former New York Jets tackle George Fant, who is thought to be a potentially cheap option for a veteran here.  

As of right now, we can only speculate, as there has been no word from inside St. Thomas Sports Park as to what direction the team is looking, and we won't get our first glimpse of who might be put in place of Petite-Frere until training camp opens, and we see that player lining up on the right side. 

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