NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Titans running back Julius Chestnut says Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke threatened to kill him during Sunday’s 25-3 loss.
The incident happened late in the third quarter when Chestnut blocked Cooke as the punter tried to trip Titans returner Chimere Dike during a 47-yard return. Cooke was hurt and evaluated for a possible concussion but returned to punt later in the game.
A second scuffle occurred shortly after Dike’s 13-yard return, with Chestnut and Cooke facing off again. Officials handed out unnecessary roughness penalties to each team, including flags for Cooke and Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik. Titans safety Mike Brown was ejected.
“I was just trying to play hard, and he came up to me and said he was going to kill me,” Chestnut said. “So I don’t know what made him do that.” Chestnut said he never got an explanation for Cooke’s actions. “That was surprising to me. I ain’t never seen nothing like that before.”
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike McCoy, right, has a discussion with officials during the second half of an NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Cooke was not asked directly after the game about Chestnut’s claim. A message was left Sunday night seeking comment from the Jaguars.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound punter said after the loss that he likes hitting people and that Chestnut got the best of him in an “eventful” game. Cooke also spoke with a referee at halftime to clear the air after a punting play with a backup long snapper.
“I might have said some things that sounded rude, so I wanted to go clear the air,” Cooke said. “I don’t like people having grudges against me. So kind of telling him the situation and also find out his take on what happened on that play in the end zone.”
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Jaguars coach Liam Coen said he would like Cooke to be smarter about unnecessary roughness calls but praised his players for competing.
“There were some frustrations that were being built up with them rushing us the way they were with the long snapper issue, and we thought we maybe were roughed or potentially roughed at one point,” Coen said. “I don’t know if it got called or not.”
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The Titans and Jaguars combined for 23 accepted penalties totaling 184 yards.