If you’ve spent any time watching the Miami Hurricanes over the last few years, or if you’ve been keeping an eye on the Tennessee Titans lately, you’ve probably noticed something unique about Xavier Restrepo. He’s a monster on the field—a route-running technician with hands like glue. But during post-game interviews or close-up shots on the sidelines, fans often notice a distinct swelling on the left side of his face.
It’s one of those things people whisper about in Reddit threads or Google in the middle of a third-quarter drive. Is it an injury? A lingering bruise from a helmet hit? Honestly, it's none of the above. What happened to Xavier Restrepo's face isn't some fresh football war wound, but a lifelong condition that he’s navigated since the day he was born.
The Truth About Xavier Restrepo's Facial Condition
The medical term for what you're seeing is vascular malformation.
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Basically, it's a rare condition where blood vessels don't develop quite right. They can form tangles, pockets, or enlarged channels that mess with normal blood flow. In Restrepo's case, this is localized to the left side of his face, specifically around his jaw and cheek area.
Most of the time, it’s not even that noticeable. But here's the kicker: when his heart starts pumping and his blood pressure rises during a high-intensity game, the area swells.
His mother, Ashley Padgett, has been very open about this. She explained in an interview with Footballville that whenever Xavier exerts himself—whether he’s sprinting down the sideline or grinding through a heavy lifting session—the blood flow to those specific veins increases, causing the visible puffiness. It’s almost like a biological "energy meter" that shows exactly how hard he’s working.
Birth Complications and Early Diagnosis
Life started with a bit of a scare for the Restrepo family. According to his mom, the condition might have been triggered by the way he was delivered. During labor in Coconut Creek, Florida, doctors had to use forceps. Ashley believes the doctors accidentally pinched a cluster of veins in his face during the process.
Initially, doctors thought it was a strawberry hemangioma. That’s a fairly common, benign tumor that usually fades away by the time a kid hits ten years old. But Xavier’s didn't fade.
When he was about three months old, the swelling became more apparent. Further testing confirmed it wasn't a temporary birthmark. It was a permanent vascular malformation.
Does It Affect His Performance?
The short answer? Not at all.
While vascular malformations can sometimes cause pain or bleeding, Xavier has been lucky. For him, it’s primarily cosmetic. It hasn't slowed him down on his path to becoming a Consensus All-American or a pro prospect.
He’s 5'10" and roughly 200 pounds. He isn't the fastest guy on the track—he clocked a 4.7-second 40-yard dash—but he plays with a level of "dog" that most players can't touch. He’s a technician. He understands leverage.
The swelling is just a part of who he is.
It’s actually become a bit of a symbol of his work ethic. Fans at "The U" grew to love seeing that slight flare-up during a big game because it meant Restrepo was in the zone. It meant he was giving everything he had.
From the Hurricanes to the Tennessee Titans
The 2024 season was a massive one for Restrepo. He led the ACC in receiving yards and touchdowns, hauling in 11 scores and over 1,100 yards. Despite the production, he went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft.
But you can't keep a guy like that off a roster for long.
The Tennessee Titans scooped him up as an undrafted free agent, reuniting him with his college quarterback, Cam Ward. As soon as training camp photos started hitting social media, the questions about Xavier Restrepo's face started all over again. NFL fans who hadn't followed his college career were confused.
They saw the swelling and assumed he'd taken a nasty hit in a scrimmage.
The reality is that Xavier is used to the questions. He’s lived with this since infancy. He’s had to explain it to coaches, teammates, and media members for years. At this point, it’s just background noise to a guy focused on making an NFL 53-man roster.
Dealing With Misconceptions
There are plenty of rumors that float around online. You'll see people suggesting:
- He has a chronic tooth infection (definitely not).
- He’s recovering from a broken jaw (nope).
- It's a "cauliflower ear" type situation from his helmet (wrong again).
It's just anatomy. Everyone's body is wired differently, and Xavier’s blood vessels just happen to be a bit more visible when he’s competing at the highest level of sport on the planet.
Looking Ahead for Xavier Restrepo
As he continues his journey with the Titans, the focus should really be on his slot-receiver savvy. He’s the kind of player who makes a living in the middle of the field, catching passes in traffic and finding the soft spots in a zone defense.
He’s already dealt with a fair share of physical hurdles, including a foot injury back in 2022 that sidelined him for a big chunk of the season. Compared to an ankle sprain or a foot fracture, a little facial swelling from a birth defect is nothing.
If you see him on your screen on Sundays and notice the puffiness, just know you're looking at a guy who is literally pouring his blood and sweat into the game.
What you can do next:
If you're following his career, keep an eye on the Titans' practice squad and active roster movements. Restrepo is a prime candidate for a "steal" role, especially with his existing chemistry with Cam Ward. If you’re a fantasy football manager in a deep league or a dynasty format, he’s a name worth stashing on your radar for his potential as a high-volume PPR (points per reception) asset.