NFL roster cutdown day always comes with heartbreak, and Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans fans are feeling it this time. The team released rookie wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, the former Miami Hurricanes star who built a bond with the franchise’s No. 1 overall. He was Ward’s most trusted target in college. Restrepo didn’t survive the push to 53.
Source: The #Titans have waived rookie WR Xavier Restrepo — Cam Ward’s college pass-catcher (@AdamSchefter first).
Tennessee could look to bring him back on the practice squad. pic.twitter.com/b1KYllnilz
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 26, 2025
The move had fans stunned. One fan wrote on X, “It’s a damn shame.”
Another added, “That’s actually so bogus.”
One X user tweeted, “I wonder if Cam Ward still wanted him.”
Others voiced their frustration, with one comment reading, “Cam Ward gonna miss that connection,”
Another fan called it “mind blowing… UM all-time leading receiver can’t even make an NFL team.”
One fan commented, “Restrepo’s got talent, wouldn’t be surprised if the Titans stash him on the PS.”
Restrepo put up monster numbers in his senior year at Miami, boasting 69 catches for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns. His chemistry with Ward was undeniable, and many expected that connection to carry over to the NFL. However, the Titans valued versatility, with rookies Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor carving out roster spots by contributing on special teams.
Looks like that was the dealbreaker for Restrepo. He never got live preseason reps on kicks or punt coverage. Restrepo’s skill set didn’t give him the edge in a league where depth players must multitask.
The rookie free agent may still have a path forward. Some fans believe he’ll land on Tennessee’s practice squad, giving Ward a familiar face in the locker room. For now, though, the dream connection that lit up Miami is on pause in the NFL.
Also read: ‘I Shouldn’t Be Playing Football’: Titans QB Cam Ward Speaks Out On His Work Ethic
Cam Ward and Titans HC Brian Callahan Ready for Uphill Task in 2025 NFL Season
The Tennessee Titans knew drafting Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick meant growing pains, and those showed up in an August 3 practice. Ward looked frustrated after a sloppy session full of errant throws, missed protections, and dropped passes. Head coach Brian Callahan let the team hear it, calling out his players with sharp words before pulling Ward aside for a 10-minute midfield conversation.
Callahan clearly states that Ward’s development won’t be “linear.” The 23-year-old rookie has shown brilliance on multiple days of camp, but the grind of adjusting to NFL defenses is testing him. Still, Callahan sees positives in Ward’s willingness to voice his opinions.
“He knows he doesn’t have all the answers,” Callahan said. “He does have opinions, too, and he’s not afraid to voice them. Which is good. That’s healthy.”
The pressure on Callahan is immense. He went 3-14 last season, and history isn’t kind to coaches tied to No. 1 overall QBs. Frank Reich lasted just 11 games with Bryce Young. Matt Eberflus was fired after 12 with Caleb Williams. Nonetheless, Callahan embraces the grind.
“I think the old adage is that pressure is a bit of privilege,” Callahan stated. “You get a chance to work with a great player when you pick him at the top of the draft. If it so happens to be a quarterback, that doesn’t change anything for me, how I go about my job, what I do on a day-to-day basis, what I believe about the development of the position. None of that changes. It’s exciting. It’s what you hope for.”
