Lance McCutcheon had announced his retirement on March 4th and walked away at just 27 years old after four years of fighting for roster spots across five different NFL teams. He seemed at peace with it. And then came a phone call that changed his life yet again. His retirement lasted less than a month.

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, McCutcheon has reversed course and signed a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans, the same team he finished the 2025 season with on the practice squad. 

“Former Steelers and Titans WR Lance McCutcheon, who had announced his retirement earlier this offseason, had second thoughts and is now signing a 1-year deal with Tennessee, sources say,” Rapoport wrote on X. “An intriguing resolution for the 27-year-old and a new opportunity.”

The Titans made it official on Wednesday, signing McCutcheon alongside wide receivers K.J. Osborn and a handful of others as part of a flurry of moves. What makes this particularly interesting is the connection. It was his former Jets head coach, Robert Saleh, now running the show in Tennessee, who reached out and brought him back.

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McCutcheon grew up in Bozeman, Montana, and played his college ball at Montana State. Nobody drafted him. The Los Angeles Rams signed him as an undrafted free agent in May 2022, waived him almost immediately, and then re-signed him two days later. Most guys don’t survive that kind of uncertainty in week one. McCutcheon did. 

He went on to lead the entire NFL in preseason receiving yards that summer with 259 yards, which was good enough to earn him a spot on the Rams’ 53-man roster heading into the regular season. The regular season, though, told a different story. 

McCutcheon appeared in 10 games for the Rams in 2022, mostly contributing on special teams, and finished with zero catches on five targets. The Rams waived him before the 2023 season as part of their final roster cuts. From there, his NFL journey became a grind with the practice squad circuit, the weekly uncertainty, and the phone calls that might mean a contract or might mean a release. 

He bounced to the Houston Texans’ practice squad in 2023, then landed with the New York Jets, where he spent parts of the 2023 and 2024 seasons before being waived ahead of the 2024 regular season.

The Pittsburgh chapter seemed like it might finally be the one that stuck. McCutcheon signed a futures deal with the Steelers in January 2025 and made enough noise in the offseason to generate optimism. He hauled in a 24-yard touchdown catch during a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. But notice wasn’t enough. 

The Steelers waived him in August 2025 as part of their preliminary cuts, brought him back to the practice squad in September, and then released him again just days later. He eventually caught on with the Steelers’ AFC rivals, the Titans’ practice squad, to finish out the 2025 season. But when Tennessee let him go in January 2026, McCutcheon apparently decided enough was enough.

On March 4th, he posted his retirement announcement on Instagram.

“I just wanted to take the time to thank everyone who has played a part in this process,” McCutcheon wrote. “I couldn’t have accomplished anything that I did or made it where I did without the help from so many different people. The list of thanks that are owed is never-ending, so thank you to everyone out there that helped me accomplish my dream of playing in the NFL… With all of that being said, I am proud to announce that I will be retiring from the NFL and the game of football.”

And then Robert Saleh called. Now he’s back, still chasing that first career reception, still proving he belongs, and getting one more shot to do it with the Titans.

The Tennessee Titans bring in more players to their roster

The Tennessee Titans made some big moves on Wednesday, adding more players to their roster. The most talked-about addition is quarterback Hendon Hooker, who is returning to the state where he played his college ball.

Hooker has also had a tough journey in the NFL because of his injuries. He was drafted by Detroit in 2023 but was released in 2025 as he struggled with turnovers throughout his training. He then spent time with the Panthers and the Jets.

Now, he joins the quarterback room led by Cam Ward, the number one overall pick from the 2025 draft. This move has raised more questions for the team as to why the Titans are bringing in a fourth veteran QB when their roster for the position is already strong.

The Titans already have plenty of depth at the QB position. Along with Ward, they have veteran Mitchell Trubisky and Will Levis, who is returning to the locker room after missing all of last year with a shoulder injury.

The team also signed wide receiver K.J. Osborn, who has played for five different NFL teams. Osborn is a proven veteran with 16 career touchdowns. Most recently, he has spent time on the Falcons’ practice squad.

The team’s new signings are running back Michael Carter and receiver Lance McCutcheon. 

Carter is a familiar face for new head coach Robert Saleh, having played for him previously during their time with the Jets from 2021 to 2023. During his time with the Jets, Carter made 39 game appearances, starting in a total of 21 games. He recorded a total of 1,079 yards with a total of 10 touchdowns. He will be the fifth former Jet to join the Titans this offseason.

This year, the Titans are focused on surrounding their young star quarterback with as much experience as possible.