Titans Cut Roster Down To 53
Starting right tackle Jack Conklin will return to the Titans’ active roster after missing training camp due to his ACL tear in Tennessee’s second-round playoff game. He will be taken off the PUP list, pointing to an early-season return rather than a six-week absence.
Many other Titans will have to head elsewhere. Tennessee announced its cuts, trimming the roster from 90 to 53 players. Here is the full list of cuts:
- WR Deontay Burnett
- DB Trey Caldwell
- LB Josh Carraway
- TE Jerome Cunningham
- RB Dalyn Dawkins
- QB Luke Falk
- DB Rico Gafford
- DB Demontre Hurst
- OL Nico Falah
- OL Laurence Gibson
- DE David King
- DE Francis Kallon
- LB Jeff Knox
- DB Josh Kalu
- DL Du’Vonta Lampkin
- OL Tyler Marz
- LB Nyles Morgan
- OL Elijah Nkansah
- DE Tobenna Okeke
- DT Mike Ramsay
- TE Tim Semisch
- WR Brandon Shippen
- LB Robert Spillane
- G Xavier Su’a-Filo
- DB Steven Terrell
- DB Jason Thompson
- RB Lenard Tillery
- WR Jordan Veasy
- RB Akrum Wadley
- DL Julius Warmsley
- LB Tony Washington
- S Damon Webb
- OL Cody Wichmann
- WR Nick Williams
- TE Ethan Wolf
Placed on IR:
- P Austin Barnard
- WR Devin Ross
Titans Release Several Players
Rather than releasing 30+ players on Saturday morning, the Titans got ahead of the game on Friday by making some early cuts. The following players have been dropped from the 90-man roster (all links go to Twitter, unless noted otherwise):
- CB Trey Caldwell (via McCormick)
- DB Rico Gafford (via McCormick)
- DB Demontre Hurst (via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com)
- DE Francis Kallon (via McCormick)
- DE David King (via Adam Caplan of SiriusXM)
- DL Johnny Maxey (via McCormick) (waived/injured)
- DL Mike Ramsay (via Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com)
- DB Steven Terrell (via McCormick)
- RB Lenard Tillery (via McCormick)
- WR Jordan Veasy (via McCormick)
King was an exclusive rights free agent this offseason and was retained on a one-year deal for the league minimum. Last season marked his most successful campaign to date as he played on a quarter of the club’s defensive snaps and 16% of the Titans’ special teams snaps.
The Titans wrapped their preseason on Thursday night with a 13-3 loss to the Vikings. The Titans went 0-4 in exhibition games, but that’s rarely an indicator of regular season success.
Per league rules, the Titans must trim their way down to a 53-man roster by Saturday afternoon. They’ll get there by releasing more players and placing others on injured reserve.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/6/18
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR DeVier Posey
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Kapron Lewis-Moore
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL James Ferentz, WR Cody Hollister, DB David Jones, OL Jason King, CB Ryan Lewis, WR Riley McCarron, DB Damarius Travis, TE Will Tye, CB Jomal Wiltz
New Orleans Saints
- LB Jayrone Elliott, WR Josh Huff
Tennessee Titans
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/29/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: FB Marquez Williams
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL John Fullington
- Waived: TE John Phillips
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: LB Joe Walker
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Khalfani Muhammad
- Waived: CB Demontre Hurst
Titans Place LeShaun Sims On IR
The Titans have placed cornerback LeShaun Sims on injured reserve, the team announced. To fill his spot on the roster, Tennessee signed fellow corner Demontre Hurst. 
Sims appeared in 13 games this season as the team’s No. 3 corner behind Logan Ryan and Adoree’ Jackson. It’s an unfortunate loss for the Titans as they fight for a playoff spot in the final two weeks of the season.
Sims’ season ends with 36 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble. He rates as Pro Football Focus’ No. 72 cornerback in the NFL, well behind Jackson (No. 37) and Ryan (No. 51), but well ahead of Brice McCain (102) who now advances to the No. 3 CB spot on the depth chart.
Hurst was with the Titans in camp but did not make their Week 1 cut. He could now have an opportunity to suit up for the playoffs and show that he is a fit for the team in 2018.
The Titans have a 66% chance of making the postseason, according to the New York Times‘ playoff odds calculator.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/5/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Buffalo Bills
- RB Roy Finch; S Duke Ihenacho (link via Adam Caplan of SiriusXM); DB William Likely (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Denver Broncos
- QB Mitch Leidner (link via Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN); G Tre’ Jackson (link via Caplan); P Brock Miller (link)
Detroit Lions
- TE Ryan O’Malley (link via Caplan)
Green Bay Packers
- DT Stefan Charles; LB Max Valles (link via Caplan)
Indianapolis Colts
- TE Jevoni Robinson; CBs Randall Evans, Demontre Hurst, Dexter McDougle, David Rivers (Twitter links)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- WR Matt Hazel; CBs Dexter McDougle, Cody Riggs (Twitter links)
New Orleans Saints
- LB Davis Tull (link via Nick Underhill of the Advocate)
Washington Redskins
- QB Stephen Morris; WRs Josh Huff, Daniel Williams; TEs Chris Bazile, Kent Taylor; Ts Josh James, Jeremiah Poutasi; DL Montori Hughes; LBs Carl Bradford, Cassanova McKinzy; CBs Senquez Golson, Jarnor Jones; S Rickey Jefferson, Jadar Johnson, Dean Marlowe; LSs Andrew East, Jeff Overbaugh (all Twitter links)
Saints Work Out Will Beatty, Jaye Howard
The Saints auditioned edge rusher Lamarr Houston earlier today, but he wasn’t the only notable NFL veteran to work out for New Orleans today. Here’s who the Saints looked at on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (all Twitter links), Adam Caplan (Twitter links), and Howard Balzer (all Twitter links):
- TE Darion Griswold
- TE Tim Wright
- T Will Beatty
- T Michael Ola
- LB Jacob Lindsey
- DL Leger Douzable
- DL Malliciah Goodman
- DL Jaye Howard
- DL Ricky Jean-Francois
- DL George Johnson
- DL Kendall Langford
- DL C.J. Wilson
- CB Demontre Hurst
- CB Trovon Reed
Beatty is perhaps the most high-profile name of the bunch, as the veteran offensive tackle 63 career starts under his belt (all for the Giants). Having served as a backup last season, Beatty would presumably play right tackle for the Saints, who are down to Senio Kelemete on the right side following starter Zach Strief‘s MCL sprain. Ola, too, would give New Orleans depth along their front five, although he doesn’t offer nearly the experience that does Beatty (only 19 starts).
As Caplan noted, the Saints essentially worked out the majority of the top free agents on the defensive side of the ball, and that comes as no surprise. Despite throwing free agent funds and draft picks at its defense, New Orleans ranks dead last in yards, 31st in scoring, and 31st in DVOA through two weeks.
Douzable, Howard, Jean-Francois, Johnson, and Langford have all served as quality starters in the very recent future, and Douzable (49ers), Howard (Bears), and Jean-Francois (Packers) have each signed contracts earlier this offseason only to be released later. Wilson, meanwhile, repeatedly bounced on-and-off the Bears’ roster a year ago, and also has a previous stint in New Orleans.
Per Pelissero, the Saints’ Week 4 contest in London is a factor in the club working out such a long list of players right now. Given that New Orleans won’t have much time to audition veterans in the coming weeks, the team will likely update its emergency list now before heading across the pond.
Titans Move Roster To 53
The Titans have announced their final 53-man roster, moving from the 90-man limit down to the regular-season standard on Saturday. Here’s who Tennessee cut to get down to 53 (via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com).
Cut:
- CB Manny Abad
- TE Jace Amaro
- DL Angelo Blackson
- NT DeAngelo Brown
- TE Jerome Cunningham
- QB Tyler Ferguson
- CB Demontre Hurst
- WR Darius Jennings
- S Denzel Johnson
- WR Jonathan Krause
- WR KeVonn Mabon
- OL Tyler Marz
- OL Josue Matias
- WR Tre McBride
- T Steven Moore
- RB Khalfani Muhammad
- WR Giovanni Pascascio
- T Jonah Pirsig
- RB Brandon Radcliff
- DE Cameron Robbins
- T Brad Seaton
- TE Tim Semisch
- G Jake Simonich
- CB Darrius Sims
- CB D’Joun Smith
- C Mark Spelman
- LB Justin Staples
- WR Eric Weems
- NT Antwaun Woods
- QB Alex Tanney
Waived/injured:
- FB Joe Bacci
- LS Ryan DiSalvo
- RB Akeem Judd
- DL Jimmy Staten
Placed on IR:
- WR Tajae Sharpe (story)
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/3/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
- The Titans have agreed to terms with cornerback Demontre Hurst, according to a team announcement. Hurst spent the past three seasons with Chicago, where he totaled 58 tackles and two interceptions. Hurst is the eighth player signed by the Titans since the opening of free agency.
- As expected, tight end Trey Burton signed his one-year RFA tender, per an announcement from the Eagles. It’s a one-year, $2.746MM contract.
- Three Broncos signed their ERFA tenders. Starting center Matt Paradis, reserve wide receiver Jordan Taylor and long snapper Casey Kreiter signed tenders and will make $615K in 2017, Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post reports. Denver extended ERFA tender offers to five other players — including outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett — but none of the remaining contingent has signed yet.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/16
Today’s minor moves:
- The Dolphins officially placed running back Arian Foster on the reserve/retired list, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Foster announced yesterday that he was hanging up his cleats.
- After acquiring tight end A.J. Derby earlier today, the Broncos have cleared a roster spot by releasing safety Shiloh Keo, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post (Twitter link).
- The Jaguars announced that they’ve officially placed defensive tackle Roy Miller on injured reserve and promoted fellow DT Richard Ash from the practice squad.
- The Bills have promoted wide receiver Ed Eagan to the active roster. In a corresponding move, offensive lineman Michael Ola has been waived. Buffalo was in dire need of pass-catching help as both Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin are dealing with injuries.
- The Chargers have placed defensive lineman Caraun Reid on injured reserve and re-signed cornerback Pierre Desir, the club announced. As Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets, Reid is the 16th player San Diego has placed on IR, tops in the league.
- The Bears announced that they have promoted defensive back Demontre Hurst to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. To make room, cornerback Jacoby Glenn has been waived.
- The Seahawks have placed defensive end Quinton Jefferson on injured reserve and signed fellow DE Malliciah Goodman, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link).