Titans land McCluster, release Stewart
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Nashville, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - The Tennessee Titans made their first free-agent move of the new season official on Wednesday, announcing an agreement with running back/slot receiver Dexter McCluster on a multi-year contract.
The Titans also parted ways with a familiar face, waiving longtime right offensive tackle David Stewart due to a failed physical designation.
According to NFL.com, Tennessee struck a three-year deal worth as much as $12 million with McCluster, who set career highs in catches (53) and receiving yards (511) while making the Pro Bowl as a return man for the Kansas City Chiefs last season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}McCluster took back a pair of punts for touchdowns in 2013 while averaging 11.8 yards per return, and has averaged 12.1 yards per runback over his four- year career.
The versatile 25-year-old has also seen time as a running back, having rushed for 516 yards on 114 carries for the Chiefs in 2011.
Stewart has been a mainstay along the Titans' offensive line over the last eight seasons, making a total of 116 starts over that span. The 31-year-old has missed four games in each of the last two campaigns, however, due to leg and shoulder injuries.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A fourth-round pick in the 2005 draft, Stewart had spent his entire nine-year career with Tennessee.
"Dave was a fixture for us at right tackle over the last eight years," said Titans general manager Ruston Webster. "He played the game with passion and brought a toughness that every team needs. Dave was a player we have always been able to count on and in our mind he will always be a Titan. We wish him and his family the best moving forward and thank him for his time with the Titans."