With the 2025 NFL Draft approaching, the Tennessee Titans continue to make roster moves.
Behind the scenes, the front office is fine-tuning the squad before the spotlight shifts to their draft choices.
The latest personnel shift involves decorated special teams contributor Justin Hardee, who won’t be part of the Titans’ plans moving forward.
“Titans waive DB Justin Hardee, OLB Khalid Duke with non-football injury designation,” Paul Kuharsky wrote on X.
#Titans waive DB Justin Hardee, OLB Khalid Duke with non-football injury designation
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) April 18, 2025
It marks an unexpected change of direction for Tennessee, particularly regarding Hardee, who rejoined the team earlier this offseason.
The veteran had established himself as a special teams ace during a three-year stint with the New York Jets, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2022 for his coverage skills.
During his lone season with the Titans in 2024, Hardee appeared in nine games and registered three tackles.
His contributions came exclusively on special teams, where he logged all 185 of his snaps.
After the season, Hardee expressed interest in returning to Tennessee while acknowledging the uncertainty of NFL roster dynamics.
Initially, it seemed both parties were aligned when the Titans re-signed him.
However, circumstances have changed, leading to his non-football injury release along with Duke.
The young outside linebacker, who joined Tennessee as an undrafted free agent, saw limited action in his rookie campaign, appearing in two games and recording one tackle.
This roster trimming comes on the heels of another notable cut, as the Titans parted with offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere one day earlier.
