The Tennessee Titans announced that they have signed defensive back Derrick Canteen. Canteen last played for Cincinnati in 2024 and was also a team captain for the Bearcats. Before transferring to Cincinnati, Canteen played for Georgia Southern from 2020-2022 and played for Virginia Tech in 2023. While at Georgia Southern, he made the freshman All-American team in 2020, while also making first-team All-Sun Belt in 2020 as well. In 2020, Canteen totaled 48 tackles, 34 solo tackles, 9 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, and 6 interceptions, FBS-leading stats.
In his senior season at Cincinnati, he finished the year with 44 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 1 interception, 5 pass breakups, and 1 forced fumble. Canteen showed enough in his college career to spend 2025 on the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. Canteen was on the 49ers' 53-man roster for the beginning of the season but was then waived and picked up to their practice squad, where he spent the remainder of the season. With 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh taking the head coaching job for the Titans, it is expected that the move means that Canteen will get a shot at making the 53-man roster and maybe play.
The Titans' cornerback room is pretty thin. They currently have 9 corners on their listed roster, with Canteen being named along with Keydrain Calligan, Cor'Dale Flott, Mario Goodrich, Marcus Harris, Jalen McMurray, Micah Robinson, Alontae Taylor, and Joshua Williams.
Canteen's role with the Titans will be more prominent after we see him play during some preseason games. The Titans' first game is on August 13th against the 49ers; former Bearcat Josiah Deguara will also be playing in that game, but for San Francisco.
The #Titans are signing defensive back Derrick Canteen, a source tells @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) August 2, 2026
Was on the 49ers practice squad last season. Was a team captain as a senior at University of Cincinnati in 2024. pic.twitter.com/7V3084sBTT
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