The Tennessee Titans have already cut down to the 53-man roster limit, but the work is far from finished. Next comes the waiver wire, and just as important, the task of filling out a 16-player practice squad.
That group figures to be a blend of youth and experience, and Tennessee may still reach beyond its own roster to add help. Even with that possibility hanging over everything, there are several cut candidates who could circle back and land on the practice squad.
Hendon Hooker looks like one of the cleaner fits. He spent training camp with the Titans, knows the system, and handled himself well when he got preseason snaps. With Tennessee carrying only two quarterbacks, keeping a third around would make sense.
Michael Carter is another name to watch. The veteran running back had a chance to make the roster but came up short. Given his connection to coach Robert Saleh, a move to the practice squad would not be a surprise.
Kalel Mullings is in a different spot, but one that could still lead back to Tennessee. He is the first Mike Borgonzi draft pick to be released in Borgonzi’s two years as general manager, though injuries have played a major role. Mullings missed most of training camp with an injury, and if he is healthy, the practice squad could be his path back.
At receiver, Bryce Oliver stands out as a likely priority. He was a surprising cut, and his value on special teams gives him a real case to return. As a receiver, he has not shown much yet, but there have been flashes.
Tyren Montgomery also fits the profile of a practice squad stash. He is raw, still learning, and exactly the kind of developmental player this group is built for. The former basketball player, who went undrafted, started to pick things up as camp closed, and a return would not be shocking.
The Titans also have a few defensive backs who could be back in the mix. Bishop Fitzgerald, an undrafted rookie free agent, opened some eyes during camp and was one of Tennessee’s better defenders against the Chicago Bears in the preseason finale. That kind of showing can earn another look.
Derrick Canteen is another familiar face. He knows the system, has history with Saleh, and made some plays after arriving late in camp.
Jalen McMurray brought value on special teams as a gunner on punt coverage and showed enough upside at slot cornerback to make a practice squad spot reasonable.
Mario Goodrich, who joined camp late, also made his presence felt. With Tennessee thin at cornerback, the idea of keeping multiple corners on the practice squad would make sense, especially if the team chooses not to bring in outside help.
In Other News...
Titans Waiver Moves Put More Fringe Roster Spots In Real Danger
The Titans kept churning the bottom of the roster this week, using waiver claims to add four players while continuing to sort through the fallout from a round of cuts. It was the kind of late-summer personnel work that can reshape a depth chart in a hurry, especially for a team still trying to bolster its depth and add more versatility before the roster picture settles.
Kylen Granson, Truman Jones and Garrett Dellinger now stand out as the names most clearly in the crosshairs as Tennessee evaluates which fringe pieces fit and which ones do not. The need for a slot cornerback only adds to the pressure on those spots, and while some of the players in this mix could still surface on the practice squad, the next wave of moves figures to say plenty about how the Titans want the back end of the roster to look. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Cut Day Left One Roster Move Fans Will Debate Most
The Titans have mostly finished shaping their 53-man roster, and the final few decisions offered a clear look at how this front office wants to balance immediate stability with long-term flexibility. Jeffery Simmons remains the centerpiece up front, while the team moved on from wide receiver Kyle Philips and added help in the secondary with Elijah Molden and Amani Hooker, moves that reflect a roster still being fine-tuned after waiver claims and cuts.
James Hudsons arrival on the offensive line is another piece worth watching, especially because of his prior work and his familiarity with the coaching staff. Even with the roster largely set, this was the kind of cut day that still left one move likely to spark the most debate among fans, because it says plenty about what Tennessee values right now and where the biggest questions around the lineup still linger. [Read more 🡒]
Will Levis Went From Titans Hope To Afterthought Fast
Will Levis rise in Tennessee never really had time to settle before the Titans moved on. Once viewed as the starter and a potential long-term answer at quarterback, he had slipped all the way to third on the depth chart behind Cam Ward, Mitchell Trubisky and Hendon Hooker before Tennessee waived him after the 2026 NFL roster cut deadline.
The move underscores how decisively the Titans have shifted under new general manager Mike Borgonzi, who has made it clear the organization is building around Ward as its franchise quarterback. For Levis, it turns a once-promising opportunity into a quick and stark reminder of how fast the league can change its mind. [Read more 🡒]