Titans cut former starter Levis; Jets drop Smith and Zappe on roster deadline
The NFL moved its roster-cut deadline to Sunday evening to accommodate the Australia opener, and teams finalized 53-man rosters. Among the notable departures, Tennessee released quarterback Will Levis, who had lost his backup competition after missing 2025 with shoulder surgery. The Jets cut defensive tackle Mazi Smith and quarterback Bailey Zappe, both of whom had limited roles in 2025.
The league shifted its cutdown date earlier than usual to account for travel and scheduling around the season-opening game in Australia, giving teams less time than in recent years to finalize their rosters. Tennessee's decision to part with Levis marks the end of a tenure that began with promise as a high second-round selection but was derailed by inconsistent play and physical setbacks.
Smith's release in New York follows a turbulent path that included a first-round selection by Dallas and a midseason trade as part of a major defensive line swap. Zappe, who once set NCAA single-season passing records, now faces an uncertain future after brief stops with multiple franchises since his rookie campaign.
This wave of roster cuts may affect fans who followed these players through college or early professional success, as well as fantasy football participants tracking depth charts. The earlier deadline could also influence how teams evaluate talent with less preseason data, potentially altering career trajectories for fringe players. Communities that rallied around local prospects may feel a sense of loss when familiar names are released, though the constant churn of NFL rosters remains an accepted part of the sport's business cycle.