Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi has tinkered his rebuilding roster all season long. For example, cornerback Kaiir Elam was signed earlier this week. Elam may play a sizable role on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13, because usual starter Jalyn Armour-Davis is on the injury report.
New players are being added to the practice squad almost daily. Rookie receiver Xavier Restrepo was a standard gameday elevation last weekend. The 1-10 Titans are attempting to identify long-term solutions ahead of 2026.
The Titans are simply biding time until they can begin a crucial offseason. Borgonzi will hire a head coach to succeed interim Mike McCoy, and he'll almost certainly possess a top-three selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. The roster will undergo another drastic rehaul. With that in mind, we've identified five Titans who won't make it past Week 18.
5 Titans players who won't make it past Week 18
Van Jefferson, WR
Van Jefferson was signed to a one-year contract to provide the wide receiving corps with experience. While he's been a valued addition to the room, he's also been outperformed by rookies Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor. As the Titans prepare to surround franchise quarterback Cam Ward with more pass-catching talent this offseason, Jefferson is likely to see his contract expire in free agency.
Arden Key, EDGE
Arden Key has been productive lately, but the Titans need to revamp their pass-rushing unit by adding a game-changer this summer. Key is also on an expiring contract, a three-year agreement that Borgonzi inherited from previous GM Ran Carthon. The Titans will probably move on from the veteran pass rusher as they prepare to get younger and more dynamic at the position through the draft.
Jerrick Reed, S
The Titans recently claimed safety Jerrick Reed off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks, but he's been limited to playing special teams. Since then, fellow safety Mike Brown came off IR, Xavier Woods got healthy, and rookie Kevin Winston Jr. is breaking out. Reed could hit the waiver wire again soon.
Jaylen Harrell, EDGE
Sophomore pass rusher Jaylen Harrell just hasn't developed into a worthy rotational player. The former Michigan standout has totaled just seven pressures this year. The Titans need to get significantly better at the spot Harrell is currently occupying on the roster.
James Williams, LB
Linebacker James Williams once possessed the advantage over Cedric Gray to start at linebacker. Gray then took over the position battle during the preseason and Williams hasn't played a single defensive snap this season. Borgonzi has subtracted several players from the Carthon era, and the underperforming sophomore linebacker could be next.