The NFL’s 53-man roster deadline came and went Sunday at 6 p.m. EDT, and a long list of former Tennessee players found themselves on the wrong side of the cut.
A few of the most notable moves came with the Seahawks, Rams and 49ers. Seattle terminated the contract of former Vol Velus Jones Jr. on Sunday. The Rams waived former Tennessee defensive lineman Jaxson Moi, while the 49ers waived defensive lineman Bryson Eason after the preseason.
The 2026 NFL regular season is set to open Sept. 9, when Seattle hosts New England at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, with kickoff scheduled for 8:20 p.m. EDT on NBC.
The first week also includes the Rams and 49ers meeting Sept. 10 at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, at 8:35 p.m. EDT on Netflix.
Here’s where the former Vols stood as teams finalized rosters for the regular season:
William Wright, a defensive back with the Chicago Bears, was waived. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III was waived.
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Tyre West was waived but signed to the practice squad. Green Bay Packers tight end McCallan Castles was waived.
Houston Texans defensive end Dominic Bailey was waived and signed to the practice squad. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Joey Aguilar was waived and signed to the practice squad, while Jaguars offensive lineman Jerome Carvin was waived. New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt was waived and listed as a practice squad veteran.
At quarterback for the Tennessee Titans, Hendon Hooker was waived and signed to the practice squad, and cornerback Jalen McMurray followed the same path. Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Matthew Butler was released. Washington Commanders defensive tackle Shy Tuttle was released.
Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. was placed on reserved/suspended. Detroit Lions offensive lineman Cade Mays landed on reserve/injured. Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott was placed on reserve/PUP.
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LSU has continued to push in the opposite direction by recruiting those players, with Lane Kiffin publicly supporting that approach, while Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has already criticized it. Plowmans comments made the SECs line clear: once a player signs a professional contract, the path back to college football is closed, setting up a potential fight that could stretch well beyond one roster decision. [Read more 🡒]