The Tennessee Titans got unexpected bad news back in June when second-year offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere was suspended for six games due to a gambling violation, but got even more unexpected news on Friday when Petit-Frere’s suspension was reduced by two games.
As a part of the NFL and the player’s association’s new agreement to amend NFL rules on player gambling, Petit-Frere will be reinstated on Monday following the Titans’ Week 4 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The NFL will reduce the suspension for the type of violation Petit-Frere committed from six games down to two games. Petit-Frere was initially suspended for placing bets on team property.
This is huge news for the Titans who are having major struggles with their offensive line through the first three weeks of the season. Petit-Frere won the starting job in his rookie year in 2022 and played in 16 games.
His performance was up and down, but for a rookie on a poor offensive line, Petit-Frere did enough to give the Titans hope they may have a long-term piece on the offensive line.
With Andre Dillard struggling and Peter Skoronski still out of the lineup due to recovery from surgery, Petit-Frere could be called upon quickly. Even Petit-Frere’s replacement in the starting lineup, Chris Hubbard, could need replacing eventually.
Hubbard played well in the first two weeks of the schedule, but allowed two sacks in Week 3. No coincidence this came in a game where the extra blocking help from a running back or tight end was given to Dillard instead of Hubbard, who had gotten more help in the opening two games.
Regardless of who or where it may be, the Titans will likely want to give Petit-Frere an opportunity to be a starter again when he is back. Even if it is more about long-term potential than the player Petit-Frere is right now.
The suspension was a surprise, the early return is a bigger surprise, but the shock factor won’t matter for the Titans, who will just feel lucky to add Petit-Frere back to their offensive line possibilities as they look for an answer to the team’s biggest weakness.
