Titans waive Xavier Restrepo day after making the 53 man roster but the dream is far from over
The NFL is a ruthless business and Tennessee Titans fan favorite Xavier Restrepo is the latest example, but don’t count the under dog wide receiver out just yet.
The Tennessee Titans have waived wide receiver Xavier Restrepo from the 53-man roster after making three waiver claims and a couple of free agent additions that required corresponding moves to balance the active roster.
Xavier Restrepo a reported roster casualty on waiver claim day
Restrepo made the initial 53-man roster, but his stay was short-lived. The move suggests the Titans always viewed him in the role most expected throughout training camp: the direct backup to wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. If Robinson misses a substantial amount of time, Tennessee can pull Restrepo off the practice squad to the active roster to fill that slot role. Restrepo is very capable of playing that position with quarterback Cam Ward under Brian Daboll’s offense.
It’s a tough break. The last 24 hours felt like a celebration of all the hard work and the grind Restrepo put forth throughout the summer and the offseason to get faster, healthier, quicker, and more effective as a special teams contributor. All of that still matters. I still think he’s going to have a role on this football team during the practice week, on the practice squad, and on game days. I expect him to be called up for a couple games this season.
The ripple effect of the move lands squarely on wide receiver Chimere Dike. Dike, who has served as the backup at multiple receiver spots, now has a great chance to continue elevating his role as a returner alongside his role as a pass catcher.
For Restrepo, it’s all part of the journey. The practice squad path keeps him connected to the Titans and positioned to contribute when the opportunity arises.
