Veteran Titans wide receiver asks for and receives his release

The Tennessee Titans dropped to 1-6 after Sunday’s 31-13 defeat by the New England Patriots at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The season has been disappointing, especially on offense. Adding veterans to the offensive line and wide receiver group was intended to boost performance, but it has made little impact. One of those additions, wide receiver Tyler Lockett, joined this offseason to offer leadership and support for rookie quarterback Cam Ward. Now, after seven games, Lockett is no longer a Titan. He requested and was granted his release and is set to sign with another team when eligible on Wednesday at 4 pm EST.

 Lockett was a dynamic playmaker with the Seattle Seahawks, stretching defenses and excelling as a return specialist. However, he failed to bring that same impact to the Titans’ offense. The Titans have ranked near the bottom of the league in multiple categories, and Lockett contributed little toward changing that trend. This season, he recorded ten receptions for 70 yards and one memorable touchdown:

Sadly, the only real highlight for Tyler Lockett with the Titans this year #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/fzAVd7XEYy

— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) October 20, 2025

Despite that, Lockett did not resemble the productive receiver he was in Seattle, where he amassed 8,594 yards in ten seasons. He dropped several catchable passes and rarely stood out on the field. As a result, he took snaps from players like Chimere Dike, who has made notable contributions in the return game and had an early impact in Sunday’s Titans-Patriots game.

Lockett was acquired for his veteran presence, but his departure benefits Tennessee by accelerating the development of their young receivers from the 2025 NFL Draft: Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor. Increased playing time with Cam Ward should boost the growth of the Titans’ young offensive core.

Another thing that could happen is what some Titans fans have been clamoring for: the callup of Ward’s top wide receiver at the University of Miami: Xavier Restrepo. While not being the fastest receiver, he always finds ways to get open. With his connection to Ward from college, it will be interesting to see if he gets his opportunity to contribute at some point with the offense.

Lockett more than likely is going to go to a team he can not only add to but has a chance to win at a higher level and with a veteran that is running out of opportunities, Lockett has to take advantage of every opportunty he has. But as far as his time in Nashville, it was not the most noteworthy addition to the 2025 Titans team.