The dream stays alive: Titans sign WR Xavier Restrepo to practice squad

The Tennessee Titans are signing former Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Xavier Restrepo to their practice squad, keeping the record-setting slot target in the building one day after final cuts and setting up a possible on-field reunion with his college quarterback, No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward.

Restrepo, an undrafted free agent this spring, was waived during Tuesday’s 53-man roster trim but cleared waivers, making him eligible to return on a practice-squad deal. This is exactly what the Titans were hoping for as they intended to keep Restrepo in the organization.

For Titans fans, the hope is that the throw-and-catch chemistry that helped define the Hurricanes’ 2024 offense could carry into the pros. Ward, who led Miami’s attack last fall before the Titans drafted him No. 1 in April, has drawn praise for his command during camp and preseason.

Restrepo arrived to the NFL with a Hurricanes resume that speaks for itself. He finished his UM career as the program’s all-time leader in receptions (200), receiving yards (2,844) and receiving touchdowns (21), becoming the first Miami wideout to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and earning consensus All-America honors in 2024. Those numbers — and the trust he built with Ward — is why Tennessee valued him as a priority undrafted signing in May and why a practice-squad spot materialized as soon as he cleared waivers. Ward has also been outspoken about Restrepo's ability.

The path to Sundays is crowded, but not impossible. The Titans kept six receivers on their initial 53 — headlined by veterans Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett — leaving Restrepo as a possible next-man-up candidate if injuries open a window.

For now, the Ward-to-Restrepo connection that fueled the Hard Rock Stadium will now live on daily in Nashville practices, with the potential for gameday cameos down the line on Sundays.