The Tennessee Titans made their final roster decisions on Sunday, and the cutdown day shuffle brought a few real surprises as Robert Saleh and Mike Borgonzi worked to get the team from 91 players to 53 by 6 p.m. ET.
Some of the biggest questions centered on depth spots, and Tennessee answered them by moving in a direction that wasn’t widely expected a few months ago. The result: a training camp standout got a spot, a veteran back was left out, and a former presumed starter was cut loose.
One of the more notable moves came at receiver. Because of his special teams value, Oliver had been projected by many to stick on the 53-man roster.
Instead, the 26-year-old was waived Sunday, though a return to the practice squad remains possible. His departure cleared the way for Xavier Restrepo, who kept showing up throughout camp and finished the preseason against the Chicago Bears with four catches for 71 yards.
Restrepo made the initial roster and beat out Oliver for the spot. How much he contributes on offense remains to be seen, but the 24-year-old will have a role on special teams and did enough over the summer to earn his place.
Tennessee also made a choice at running back that wasn’t especially obvious heading into cutdown day. Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, and rookie Nick Singleton were all considered safe bets, and if the Titans kept a fourth back, Carter had been viewed as the favorite.
Instead, the team kept Julius Chestnut. Chestnut has been with the Titans since 2022 and played more than 300 special teams snaps in 2025, finishing with a 76.5 Pro Football Focus grade.
That work likely gave him the edge over Carter, who was cut despite having played for Saleh with the New York Jets.
The offensive line brought another twist. Volson’s release wasn’t shocking on its own after an uneven camp and preseason, but the bigger surprise is how far his stock fell.
Just last month, he was being discussed as the likely starting right guard. Over the summer, though, he was outplayed by rookie Fernando Carmona and Jackson Slater, and Tennessee also chose to keep Garrett Dellinger over him.
Carmona, the Titans’ fifth-round pick in April, is now set to open as the No. 1 right guard when Tennessee hosts the New York Jets in Week 1. Volson, meanwhile, may still be searching for work by then.
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Titans Roster Could Claim A Few More Surprising Victims Soon
The Titans first 53-man roster already carried a few surprises, and it may not be the last version fans see. Tennessee trimmed down to its opening roster with some notable decisions, including veteran guard Cordell Volson and wide receiver Bryce Oliver, but the work is far from finished as the team continues to sort through the final shape of the group.
With the Titans holding the fourth waiver priority, there is still room for more movement as other clubs make their own cuts and the market opens up. Inside that churn, a few names already look vulnerable based on performance and roster needs, including Austin Deculus, Garrett Dellinger and Jerrick Reed II, which means the next wave of decisions could reshape the depth chart again before the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Finally Addressed The Backup Tackle Problem Fans Hated
The Titans spent part of their roster shuffle giving the offensive line a different look, releasing tackle Austin Deculus and signing veteran James Hudson to the 53-man roster. It was one of several moves the team made in the same sweep, alongside additions of Owen Pappoe, Terrell Burgess, Nazir Stackhouse and Melvin Smith, with Xavier Restrepo, Erick Hallett II, Mo Diabate and Jerrick Reed II waived in corresponding moves.
Hudson gives Tennessee a more familiar option at a spot fans had been unhappy about, especially given his history with offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo. The veteran has played in 60 NFL games with 19 starts, and the Titans are clearly leaning on that experience as they keep sorting out the depth behind the top tackles. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Defense-First Waiver Push Came With One Unexpected Cut
The Titans wasted little time shaping their roster after cutdown day, making a series of moves that underscored how heavily they want to lean on defense. Tennessee cut linebacker Mohamoud Diabate while claiming four players off waivers, including linebackers Owen Pappoe and Smith Jr., defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse and veteran safety Burgess, a clear sign the front office was hunting for more depth on that side of the ball.
What made the transaction list stand out was not just the volume of defensive additions, but the unexpected departure that came with it. Diabates exit opened the door for the new wave of claims, and the Titans now have a reshaped group to sort through as they continue refining the back end of the roster and trying to stockpile options before the season gets moving. [Read more 🡒]