Titans Cut 16 Players
The Titans are among the teams to make early decisions on roster cuts. Teams have barely 24 hours to set their initial 53-man rosters. Here are the 16 players Tennessee has parted with on its journey from 90 to 53:
Released:
Waived:
- DB Joshuah Bledsoe
- DT Josiah Bronson
- LB Amari Burney
- DE Desmond Evans
- DB Jermari Harris
- WR Jha’Quan Jackson
- DB Jalen Kimber
- DB Clarence Lewis
- DB Davion Ross
- WR TJ Sheffield
- DT T.J. Smith
- DB Julius Wood
Waived/Injured:
- WR Matt Landers
Mustipher is the most notable name included here, having started 40 games for the Bears as their primary center from 2020-22. He has been unable to commandeer a similar role elsewhere, bouncing around the league since his 2023 Chicago exit. Mustipher started one game for the Chargers last season, joining the Titans for no guaranteed money. Hambright and Gaziano each debuted in 2020; the former played in four Titans games last season.
Titans To Re-Sign S Quandre Diggs
Quandre Diggs recently returned to full strength, opening the door to another opportunity. The veteran safety will land in a familiar spot, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting a Titans deal will come to pass.
The former Lions and Seahawks standout joined the Titans last year. Diggs received clearance to return to action, after suffering a season-ending Lisfranc, injury last year, in late July, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes.
Diggs was among the injured performers during a brutal health season for the Titans’ secondary. Cornerback imports L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie both lasted less than half the season, with Diggs’ eight-game slate also falling into that category. The Titans released Awuzie and have Sneed on their active/PUP list to open training camp. Diggs, though, will be back in position to provide a veteran presence in this secondary. This signing comes a year and a day after Diggs’ initial Titans agreement, though his experience last season will provide a different level of familiarity.
Adding both Diggs and Jamal Adams last year, the Titans preferred the older of the two ex-Seahawks starters. Diggs started all eight games he played last season (as Tennessee cut Adams in-season), but a lengthy rehab odyssey became necessary after the significant foot setback. The Titans rostered Diggs on just a one-year, $3MM deal last season. Considering the injury, it would surprise if Diggs surpassed that this year.
A Pro Bowler from 2020-22, Diggs became a Seahawks cap casualty early in Mike Macdonald‘s HC tenure. Diggs showed no durability concerns in Seattle, starting every Seahawks game — as Adams routinely ran into injury trouble — from 2020-23. Pro Football Focus graded Diggs’ abbreviated Titans season positively as well, slotting him 20th among safety regulars.
The Titans were busy at the position this offseason, adding Xavier Woods and using a third-round pick on Kevin Winston Jr.. The latter is coming off a partial ACL tear suffered while at Penn State. Winston, though, avoided the active/NFI list and has been developing during the Titans’ preseason workouts. Diggs would stand to be a stopgap while Winston learns, but Woods’ arrival alongside secondary staple Amani Hooker could relegate the “new” arrival to a high-profile backup role. Indeed, veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky notes Diggs is competing for the fourth safety role. (Of note, Diggs is also a cousin of No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward.)
Tennessee also added safety Joshuah Bledsoe while waiving safety Mark Perry and edge rusher Titus Leo to clear roster space.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/5/25
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Waived from IR: TE Cole Fotheringham
Detroit Lions
- Reverted to IR: CB Divaad Wilson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Reverted to IR: OL Cooper Hodges
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: DB Joshuah Bledsoe
With the Steelers adding S Quindell Johnson yesterday, the team ended up moving on from one of their other defensive backs. The choice was Bledsoe, a former sixth-round pick by the Patriots. The Missouri product got into four games during his two seasons in New England. Following a brief stint in the UFL, Bledsoe caught on with the Steelers’ offseason roster back in January.
Patriots Set 53-Man Roster
The Patriots have set their first 53-man roster in a post-Bill Belichick era. The team announced the following moves:
Released:
- S Joshuah Bledsoe
- OT Kellen Diesch
- OL Liam Fornadel
- LB Joe Giles-Harris
- RB Kevin Harris
- RB Terrell Jennings
- LB Kobe Jones
- WR Matt Landers
- G Atonio Mafi
- DE Jotham Russell
- K Chad Ryland (story)
- S A.J. Thomas
- CB Shaun Wade
- WR David Wallis
- TE Mitchell Wilcox
- QB Bailey Zappe (story)
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
- WR Kendrick Bourne (story)
- G Cole Strange
- LB Sione Takitaki
Placed on reserve/NFI list:
Placed on IR:
- OL Calvin Anderson
- S Marte Mapu (designated to return)
- DT Armon Watts
Atonio Mafi was a fifth-round pick by the Patriots just last year, and he ended up starting five of his 17 appearances as a rookie. It wasn’t pretty for the UCLA alumni, as Pro Football Focus ultimately graded Mafi as the second-worst qualifying guard in the NFL (among 79 qualifying players).
Kevin Harris was a sixth-round pick by New England in 2022, but the running back struggled to carve out a role through his two seasons with the squad. The South Carolina product was ultimately limited to nine appearances (one start), collecting 175 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.
Patriots Place JuJu Smith-Schuster On IR
JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s first season with the Patriots has come to an end. The team announced on Saturday that he has been placed on injured reserve. 
The 27-year-old has missed the past two games, and he will not return for the final two contests of the campaign. Smith-Schuster joined New England on a three-year, $25MM deal in free agency following his one-year stint in Kansas City. Today’s move marks an end to a disappointing first run with the Patriots.
Smith-Schuster – who upped his value in 2022 by posting 933 yards on 78 catches with the defending champions- put up far less production this year. The former Steelers draftee delivered a 29-260-1 statline in 11 contests with New England, ranking him just sixth on the team in receiving. Especially given the lack of high-end playmakers on the team, his ability to return to full heath and his previous form in 2024 will be critical for the Patriots.
Not much has gone according to plan on offense for New England, a team which faces uncertainty under center and on the sidelines heading into the offseason. Smith-Schuster’s $7MM base salary for next season is guaranteed, however, meaning he will at least remain in place for the start of the next campaign. A rebound would help a passing attack which has struggled with both Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe at the helm in 2023, something which has produced a league-low 14.1 points per game on offense.
Today’s news means that as the Patriots close out the campaign – a two-game stretch which could see them move higher up the 2024 draft order – they will be without another skill-position player. Lead running back Rhamondre Stevenson has also been moved to IR, shutting him down for the season. New England will finish its schedule against the Bills and Jets with a shorthanded group of pass-catchers. To fill Smith-Schuster’s roster spot, safety Joshuah Bledsoe was signed off the practice squad.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC East
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bills, Dolphins, Jets and Patriots moves are noted below.
Buffalo Bills
Signed:
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Eli Ankou, WR Marcell Ateman, CB Kyron Brown, DE Kameron Cline, DL Richard Gouraige, CB Ja’Marcus Ingram, WR Andy Isabella, OL Kevin Jarvis, RB Ty Johnson, OL Greg Mancz, WR Tyrell Shavers, WR Bryan Thompson, DT Kendall Vickers, TE Joel Wilson
Placed on IR:
- LB Baylon Spector, WR Justin Shorter
Miami Dolphins
Signed:
- TE Tyler Kroft, CB Parry Nickerson
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Ethan Bonner, DE Randy Charlton, TE Tanner Conner, LB Cameron Goode, DT Da’Shawn Hand, LB Alexander Johnson, WR Braylon Sanders, OL Alama Uluave
New England Patriots
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- S Joshuah Bledsoe, TE Pharaoh Brown, QB Malik Cunningham (story), OL James Ferentz, LB Joe Giles-Harris, RB Kevin Harris, RB Ty Montgomery, LB Calvin Munson, OLB Ronnie Perkins, WR Thyrick Pitts, OL Kody Russey, TE Matt Sokol, OL Andrew Stueber, P Corliss Waitman, QB Bailey Zappe (story)
New York Jets
Signed:
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- QB Tim Boyle, TE Zack Kuntz, OL Adam Pankey, DL Tanzel Smart, DL Marquiss Spencer, LB Samuel Eguavoen, LB Caleb Johnson, S Trey Dean, CB Craig James, CB Nehemiah Shelton
Placed on IR:
- T Carter Warren, TE Kenny Yeboah
Patriots Reduce Roster To 53 Players
The Patriots made headlines earlier today when they moved on from both of their backup QBs, leaving Mac Jones as the lone quarterback on the active roster. The organization has continued making moves, reducing their roster to 53 players:
Released:
- OL James Ferentz
- TE Anthony Firkser
- LB Joe Giles-Harris
- RB Ty Montgomery
- LB Calvin Munson
Waived:
- S Joshuah Bledsoe
- RB Kevin Harris
- OL Chasen Hines
- OL Bill Murray
- LB Ronnie Perkins
- DL Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
- WR Thyrick Pitts
- OL Kody Russey
- TE Matt Sokol
- OL Andrew Stueber
- RB J.J. Taylor
- WR Raleigh Webb
Placed on reserve/PUP:
- DB Cody Davis
- DL Trey Flowers
Placed on IR:
- CB Isaiah Bolden
- OL Conor McDermott
James Ferentz is one of the few holdovers from the Tom Brady in New England, with the lineman having been with the Patriots since the 2018 campaign. Over the past five seasons, the veteran has appeared in 39 games (nine starts) for the organization. The Patriots made some additions to their offensive line via trade, perhaps costing Ferentz his roster spot.
Veteran Ty Montgomery got into only a single game for the Patriots last season before suffering a season-ending injury. The wideout/running back hasn’t topped 200 yards from scrimmage since the 2018 season. Meanwhile, Kevin Harris was a sixth-round pick by the organization just last year, with the RB getting 18 touches as a rook.
Trey Flowers rejoined the Patriots this offseason after spending the past few years in Detroit and Miami. The defensive lineman had 21 sacks for New England between 2016 and 2018, but he’s only collected 10.5 sacks in the four seasons since. He won’t be eligible to join the active roster until at least Week 5.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/30/21
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted to active roster: TE Stephen Sullivan
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: DT Josiah Bronson
Houston Texans
- Extended: S Grayland Arnold and DE Ron’Dell Carter
Miami Dolphins
- Designated for return: OT Greg Little
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: S Joshuah Bledsoe
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/14/21
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): CB Saivion Smith
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: WR Juwann Winfree
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated off reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Jalen Richard
- Designated for return: TE Nick Bowers
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: C Austin Reiter
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Danielle Hunter
New England Patriots
- Activated off reserve/NFI list: S Joshuah Bledsoe
- Placed on injured reserve: G Alex Redmond
- Waived: LB Calvin Munson
Washington Football Team
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Kendall Fuller, DT Tim Settle
Patriots Reduce Roster To 53
The Patriots made headlines earlier today when they cut quarterback Cam Newton, a move that made rookie Mac Jones the starter. The team has since reduced their roster to 53 players, and we’ve detailed each of the moves (including those previously reported) below:
Released
- DL Montravius Adams
- DL Tashawn Bower
- DB Adrian Colbert
- OL Korey Cunningham
- OL James Ferentz
- K Nick Folk
- QB Brian Hoyer
- TE Matt LaCosse
- QB Cam Newton
- OL Alex Redmond
- DL Akeem Spence
- DB Dee Virgin
Waived
- DB Myles Bryant
- CB Michael Jackson
- DL Bill Murray
- WR Tre Nixon
- DB D’Angelo Ross
- G William Sherman
- DL Nick Thurman
- WR Kristian Wilkerson
- WR Isaiah Zuber
Placed on Reserve/PUP list
- DL Byron Cowart
- CB Stephon Gilmore
- LB Terez Hall
- QB Jarrett Stidham
Placed on Reserve/NFI list
- S Joshuah Bledsoe
- LB Cameron McGrone
Placed on Injured Reserve
The Patriots veterans are most notable, but the organization also waived a pair of 2021 draft picks. Sherman was a sixth-round pick out of Colorado who appeared in 30 games during his collegiate career. Nixon was a seventh-round pick; the wideout split his collegiate career between Ole Miss and Central Florida, earning All-AAC honors in 2019.