After battling through a crowded defensive room, edge rusher Truman Jones reflects on his journey from undrafted long shot to securing a spot on Tennessee's final depth chart.
The Tennessee Titans had one month to determine which talent was worthy of making their 53-man roster.
After many practices and three preseason games, the Titans assembled the 53-man roster. There were some good surprises initially, with former undrafted free agent Xavier Restrepo making the roster.
He was waived one day later and signed to the practice squad on Tuesday, but it was great to see him make the team after all he'd been through.
From his hamstring issues at Miami's Pro Day, which affected his draft stock, to Saturday night's performance, it was a long journey for Restrepo to get to this point, but he made it.
Another pleasant surprise was when it was announced that edge rusher Truman Jones had made the team.
Jones had a solid preseason, recording nine total tackles, 2.5 sacks and two TFLs.
After being a long shot to make the roster, Jones defied the odds. He wasn't a newcomer, having joined the Titans last year. The team added talent like John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson around Jeffery Simmons, making it hard for a player like Jones to make the team.
Naturally, he was one of the players who were interviewed after Tuesday's practice.
He admitted he was even surprised to make the roster. It wasn't that he didn't believe in himself, but because of how talented the Titans are on the defensive line.
"I feel like it was a surprise for sure," Jones said. "I mean, we had a great room with a lot of veterans. I mean, it was very competitive and, you know, I caught myself looking at the names and things and thinking, 'How am I going to make this?' But just put your head down every day and kind of work and then end up here."
Jones had been preparing for this moment for a long time.
Jones went undrafted out of Harvard in 2023 and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was signed to the practice squad but got released in November of that same year.
He then joined the New England Patriots' practice squad a couple of weeks later. Jones was elevated to the active roster for one game in 2025, and then the Titans signed him to their active roster in October of that year.
Jones played in nine games for the Titans last season and recorded 1.5 sacks. He improved upon those numbers with just a few preseason games.
Jones is what happens when hard work pays off. He defied the odds and made the team despite a crowded position group.
