The Tennessee Titans tinkered with their roster Sunday, waiving defensive tackle Philip Blidi.
The 6-foot-3, 284-pound Blidi was originally signed in May as an undrafted free agent.
Blidi did not play in the teamâs second preseason game, a 23-20 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Philip Blidi Had a Well-Traveled College Career
Blidi, 23, made three different stops in college, playing for Texas Tech (2020-22) and Indiana (2023) before landing at Auburn (2024). Over five seasons, Blidi appeared in 59 games and recorded 91 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery.
Upon transferring to Auburn in 2024, he told the schoolâs website that he liked to model his game after NFL legends Mean Joe Greene, Too Tall Jones, and Deacon Jones.
âIâve always felt like I was a defensive guy,â Blidi said. âI know little kids always want to play running back, but I always wanted to play defense since third or fourth grade. I pattern my game after the old-school players. I like to watch throwback defense â the energy they play with and the violence they play with. Mean Joe Greene, Too Tall Jones, Deacon Jones â I loved to watch how they play.â
After Blidi went undrafted, the Titans added him to their stable of young defensive linemen. Blidi played 12 snaps in Tennesseeâs preseason opener, a 29-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 9, and recorded two tackles (one solo).
Titans Announce Corresponding Move on Defense
As with most undrafted rookies, Blidi faced an uphill battle to make the Titansâ 53-man roster out of camp. Blidiâs absence against Atlanta obviously did not bode well for his chances. He will now look to latch on elsewhere, likely as a rotational player.
In a corresponding move announced Monday, the Titans signed veteran defensive tackle T.J. Smith. The 6-3, 300-pound Smith has appeared in seven games over four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers.
Smith, 28, spent most of last season on the Panthersâ practice squad but did play in three games, notching two tackles.
Led by first-year head coach Brian Callahan, the Titans tied for NFLâs worst record at 3-14.
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