Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair will not be coming back for a second season with the Tennessee Titans, but like one of his former Titans teammates, he isn't going far.

Al-Shaair is reportedly expected to sign with the Houston Texans in NFL free agency, per NFL Network and The Athletic. Al-Shaair led the Titans and finished fifth in the NFL with 163 combined tackles in 2023, his first season with the franchise.

Al-Shaair came to Nashville after spending his first four professional seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, but he made nearly as many tackles in his season with the Titans as he did in the four with the 49ers combined. He also had two sacks, nine tackles for loss and four pass breakups.

Al-Shaair is the second Titans defender who's reportedly defecting to the division rival Texans; he is being joined by defensive lineman Denico Autry.

Al-Shaair played for Texans coach DeMeco Ryans when Ryans was the defensive coordinator in San Francisco.

THE UPDATES: Tennessee Titans free agency updates: Derrick Henry news, top NFL players remaining

The linebacker, who turns 27 in August, was undrafted out of Florida Atlantic in 2019. He signed with the Titans on a one-year, prove-yourself contract in 2023, making a base salary of $5 million. His familiarity with Titans general manager Ran Carthon was one of the things that brought him to Nashville, as Carthon worked in the 49ers' front office throughout Al-Shaair's tenure.

The Titans must completely rebuild their inside linebacker room. Al-Shaair and fellow 2023 starter Jack Gibbens are both free agents, though Gibbens is an exclusive rights free agent, so if the Titans choose to offer him a contract, no other team can negotiate with him.

Undrafted rookie Otis Reese is the only inside linebacker who the Titans have under contract for 2024.

Tracking the Tennessee Titans' free agents in 2024

• Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair: Unsigned

• Defensive lineman Denico Autry: Unsigned

• Defensive tackle Ross Blacklock: Unsigned

• Center Aaron Brewer: Unsigned

• Running back Julius Chestnut: Unsigned

• Long snapper Morgan Cox: Unsigned

• Defensive lineman Marlon Davidson: Unsigned

• Safety Terrell Edmunds: Unsigned

• Kicker Nick Folk: Unsigned

• Cornerback Kristian Fulton: Unsigned

• Linebacker Jack Gibbens: Unsigned

• Defensive end Trevis Gipson: Unsigned

• Running back Derrick Henry: Unsigned

• Offensive lineman Chris Hubbard: Unsigned

• Defensive lineman Jaleel Johnson: Unsigned

• Linebacker Joe Jones: Unsigned

• Offensive lineman Corey Levin: Unsigned

• Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting: Unsigned

• Wide receiver Chris Moore: Unsigned

• Defensive tackle Kyle Peko: Unsigned

• Tight end Kevin Rader: Unsigned

• Quarterback Ryan Tannehill: Unsigned

• Guard Calvin Throckmorton: Unsigned

• Safety K'Von Wallace: Unsigned

• Running back Jonathan Ward: Unsigned

• Tight end Trevon Wesco: Unsigned

• Wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: Unsigned

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans LB Azeez Al-Shaair to sign with Texans in free agency | Report