What happened: Saleh described Elliott as a father and husband with no criminal history and characterized the gun retrieval as a possible cry for help. Elliott was released Oct. 20 after a practice altercation involving an attempt to retrieve a gun from his car.

Why it matters: Elliott is listed as a free agent, leaving his next roster spot dependent on another club's evaluation. A head-coach character vouch of this length carries weight in how front offices assess off-field risk.

What to watch: The next development is whether any of the other 31 clubs signs Elliott during the 2026 regular season.