A Deep Dive Into the 53-Man Roster

There were plenty of notable decisions the Tennessee Titans made when they cut their roster to 53 players. Among them: all three quarterbacks (Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis and rookie Will Levis) made it; two rookies who grew up in or around Nashville (wide receiver Colton Dowell and safety Matthew Jackson) made it: and two recent draft picks (wide receiver Racey McMath and linebacker Chance Campbell) did not. ... The first post-cut practice included the rapid return from injury by wide receiver Treylon Burks. Perhaps even more surprising was offensive lineman Dillon Radunz's removal from the Physically Unable to Perform list. Burks' return provides some much-needed certainty for the offense as it prepares for the opener at New Orleans. What Radunz can add -- or will be asked to add -- is not nearly as clear. ... The Titans changed kickers again when they traded a 2025 seventh-round pick to New England for 38-year-old veteran Nick Folk, who becomes the latest long-in-the-tooth kicker to get the job with Tennessee. Cade York, a 2022 draft pick by Cleveland, was added to the practice squad as either insurance against age catching up to Folk or as the long-term solution at the position -- or both. ... The decision to keep three quarterbacks was not a given at the start of the preseason. Of the three, Willis likely helped himself the most in the exhibition games. But did he do enough to be the No. 2 guy when the regular season starts? ... Speaking of the quarterbacks, what was the point of Tannehill handing off three times before he went to the bench in the preseason finale against New England? ... If there is one noticeable change with general manager Ran Carthon now in charge, it is an apparent willingness to roll the dice with players who did not face elite competition in college. ... If there are areas of concern, they appear to be the offensive line and the last line of defense, aka the safeties, or at least the depth players at that spot.