Titans OG Saahdiq Charles shockingly retires, throws OL competition into frenzy

In an absolute stunner, Tennessee Titans offensive guard Saahdiq Charles informed the team that he's retiring on Tuesday evening. In-house reporter Jim Wyatt delivered the news on social media. Charles was pegged to be Tennessee's starting right guard this season. They'll now need to find an alternative solution at the position.

Charles had missed a handful of practices recently. Head coach Brian Callahan cited "personal reasons" for Charles' absence. He's now informed the team that he's walking away from the game.

The Titans released their first unofficial depth chart of the campaign on Monday. Charles appeared as the offense's starting right guard. That's obviously no longer the case.

Charles signed a one-year contract with the Titans worth $1.5 million earlier this offseason. The agreement included $250,000 in guaranteed money, according to Over The Cap. Charles' deal had a per-game bonus of $75,000. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan made comments during Spring workouts that heavily insinuated he'd be the starter.

"Had a really good career in Washington I felt,” Callahan said when discussing Charles. “Some of the things I identified on film were positive, could play into our scheme and could add into what we are doing here. It was a little bit of a no-brainer to acquire him."

Charles had fairly consistently worked with the first-team offense throughout Spring workouts and during the early stages of training camp. He appeared primed to start next to new center Lloyd Cushenberry, whom he was teammates with on LSU's 2019 National Championship winning team.

Dillon Radunz and Lachavious Simmons were listed as the backup right guards on Tennessee's initial (and unofficial) depth chart. Assuming each player gets bumped up a spot following Charles' retirement. that would place Radunz in the starting role.

It was Radunz who received first-team reps with the offense earlier this week when Charles was absent from practice for personal reasons. A 2021 second-round selection that's failed to meet expectations to date, this represents yet another opportunity for Radunz to win a starting job and become a permanent fixture on the offensive line. This is arguably his best chance yet.

It remains to be seen if Daniel Brunskill gets back into the right guard competition. Last year's starter at the position, Brunskill had primarily been working as the second-string center this offseason behind Cushenberry. The Titans possess enough coverage at center with Corey Levin also on the roster, so perhaps this will provide an opportunity.

Brunskill was listed at center, not guard, on the Titans' unofficial depth chart.
Other reserve guards on the roster include Andrew Rupcich and Cole Spencer.