The Tennessee Titans re-signed defensive end Keyunta Dawson on Thursday, less than a week before the start of free agency.
The 27-year-old was one of 17 players set to become an unrestricted free agent when the NFL’s new contract year begins Tuesday afternoon.
Dawson (6-foot-3, 254 pounds) originally signed with the Titans last January. He appeared in the first three games of 2012 and made five tackles, four in the Week 2 loss at San Diego. He sustained a hamstring injury early in Week 3 against Detroit and was placed on injured reserve three days later.
He is a reserve pass rusher who provides depth behind starting defensive ends Kamerion Wimbley and Derrick Morgan.
A seventh-round draft pick by Indianapolis in 2007, he played four seasons with the Colts and one with Detroit before he came to Tennessee.