Three former Tennessee football quarterbacks were cut by NFL teams they spent the preseason with as rosters were trimmed down to 53 players league-wide on Aug. 31.
The most surprising of the three former Vols released was Joe Milton, who made the Dallas Cowboys' initial 53-man roster but was waived on Aug. 31. Joey Aguilar stuck with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a member of the practice squad andHendon Hooker will be a free agent after the Tennessee Titans did not keep him.
Another former Vols quarterback, Josh Dobbs, is poised to assume the backup job with the Detroit Lions behind Jared Goff. Dobbs is playing for his ninth team in 10 NFL seasons and second time with the Lions.
Milton, who started 21 games as a Vol from 2021-23, completed 29 of
43 passes for 378 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions during the 2026 preseason. He's played in five regular season games over two years with the New England Patriots and Cowboys.
Milton appeared to be playing his way into a backup role, but Sam Howell is now the only other quarterback on the roster besides starter Dak Prescott. If Milton clears waivers, he could be brought back to the practice squad.
Aguilar's odds of making the 53-man roster slimmed when Jacksonville traded with the Miami Dolphins for Quinn Ewers on Aug. 30. But the Jaguars made sure Aguilar would be available by signing him to the practice squad on Aug. 31.
Aguilar, the starter at UT last season, enjoyed an outstanding preseason. He completed 17 of 20 passes for 230 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions across three preseason appearances.
Hooker, the 2022 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, played sparingly for the Titans in the preseason, completing nine of 13 passes for 89 yards.
With a franchise player in Cam Ward established as the starter and veteran Mitch Trubisky signed to a two-year deal to back him up, the Titans opted to cut Hooker and former starter Will Levis.
Hooker was still recovering from the knee injury when the Lions picked him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He was cut by the Lions after struggling during last season’s training camp, leading to stops with the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets before signing with the Titans this past offseason.
Stephen Thompson covers Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball. Email him at stephen.thompson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @stephenethom.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Joey Aguilar makes Jaguars' practice squad. Joe Milton, Hendon Hooker cut
