Titans set initial practice squad, leaving one spot open as Xavier Restrepo awaits waivers

The Tennessee Titans have announced their first practice squad for the 2027 season, putting 16 players in the group. Under NFL rules, teams are permitted to carry 17 players on the practice squad, so the Titans’ debut list is one short of the maximum permitted headcount.

According to the report, the team’s remaining opening is tied to receiver Xavier Restrepo. Restrepo was released, and the expectation is that Tennessee intends to re-add him to the practice squad once he clears the waiver process. That timing matters because a player released during the waiver period cannot simply be placed on a practice squad right away if other teams can still claim him.

In practical terms, the waiver system creates a short window in which a released player can be claimed by another club. If no one claims him by the deadline, the player is then cleared and becomes eligible for his new destination. For the Titans, keeping 16 spots filled while holding a 17th slot suggests they are trying to avoid disrupting their first-round evaluation group while still leaving flexibility for the Restrepo decision.

Practice squads are where teams build depth and develop players who are not on the active 53-man roster. They also provide an extra layer of preparation during the week, because practice-squad players can scout opponents up close in practice and learn the playbook at a pace suited to their role. For a team assembling its first group of the season, the difference between having 16 and 17 players is not huge, but it can affect workload management and coverage during practice.

The Titans’ move is also part of the broader roster-building timeline that follows training camp and the early season roster cutdown process. Even after teams reach the regular-season roster limits, practice squads remain a key mechanism for adjusting to injuries, performance, and scheme fit without using active-roster space.

The Restrepo angle adds the one-week wrinkle that often defines early practice squad announcements. If he clears waivers as expected, Tennessee can fill the final slot and finalize its initial structure. If he is claimed, the Titans would need to move on quickly and identify a replacement, potentially reshaping how they prioritize positions for development.

What to watch next is straightforward: whether Restrepo clears waivers on schedule and, if so, whether the Titans officially place him on the practice squad to bring the group to the full 17-player limit. Either way, the announcement also indicates that Tennessee’s initial evaluation plan is already largely set, with the final decision awaiting the waiver outcome.