As expected, the Titans announced their intention to release Rishard Matthews. The wide receiver asked the team to cut him on this week and the Titans obliged after being unable to find a suitable trade for him. 
The Titans’ passing offense has struggled this year, in part because the injury to Marcus Mariota that forced Blaine Gabbert into action. Matthews, meanwhile, was upset about his limited role and wants to join a club that will utilize him more.
“I’ve been the leading receiver for two years,” Matthews said. “Then all of a sudden I’m barely playing and not even starting. Using my injury as the scapegoat. Look at number of snaps and targets.”
As Field Yates of ESPN.com notes (on Twitter), receiver-needy teams like the Cowboys, Patriots, Bills, Seahawks, and Cardinals would all make sense for Matthews. The Bills, in particular, could be a likely landing spot for the veteran. Bills wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie was Tennessee’s offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017, so he knows what Matthews can do when he’s at his best.
Matthews had something of a breakout season with the Dolphins in 2015 and parlayed that into a free agent deal with the Titans in 2016. Matthews responded by amassing 945 receiving yards in his first year with Tennessee and had nearly 800 yards last season. In three games this year, Matthews had just three catches off of six targets.
After releasing Matthews, the Titans are left with five wide receivers on the roster – Corey Davis, Tajae Sharpe, Taywan Taylor, Darius Jennings, and Nick Williams. Davis leads the team with 13 catches for 151 yards through three weeks.
Pats
nope. where would you rank him with Hogan, Edelman, Gordon, gronk, dorsett, patterson? he is complaining about his use in tennessee with inferior players. No way he is anything more than a 4 or 5 option on the pats with everyone healthy. Indy should make a play.
Above Hogan Dorsett and Patterson if he’s actually healthy.
If any team in that division makes sense it’s Buffalo not New England
Why does everyone say the Pats when a player gets released ?
Because they have done very well over the years with reclamation projects.
That’s a lame reason
That’s an accurate answer.
TJECK actually used the word lame in his lame response. Today’s a good day.
It is accurate, Wild Bill has done well squeezing a lot of value out of talented but tainted players who are looking to bounce back and take a shot at a title.
Drop that Polish Hammer!
Have you seen this offense? They can use as many receivers as possible, plus they literally just brought Kerley in for a workout suggesting they might still want to add another body.
they played a good Jacksonville defense and have been without Edelman and Gordon last week. while I’m not saying they are loaded, I doubt Matthews goes tons team where he arguably is 5th option at best to start.
Matthews is mainly a possession receiver (average yard per catch about 14). He catches 60% of targets. Those numbers keep offensive coordinators awake at night. Either the YPC has to go up to just under 20 or the catch percentage should be just south of 70%.
After this many seasons, highly unlikely Matthews can improve much on these numbers. For instance, Matthews would be just another guy on the Redskins but they have Brian Quick in the 53 who has similar numbers except at 50% target/catch ratio.
Their number one guy Josh Doctson who was a number first round draft pick in 2016 has a drop ratio over 50%. Maybe the Redskins should call Matthews after all. Matthews is at least reliable and wants to play.