The Broncos and Packers both went hunting for backfield help before Tuesday’s trade deadline, and both came up empty on the same name.
The target that drew the most attention was Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, but the asking price was steep enough to scare off multiple teams. The reported cost was roughly a first-round pick, or a package similar to the Christian McCaffery trade in 2022. Indianapolis, rather than moving Taylor for less, kept him in place for the benefit of its next general manager.
That left Tony Pollard as the other AFC South back to watch. According to Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter of ESPN, Denver and Green Bay both “checked in” on Pollard, but the Tennessee Titans were holding firm on a return of at least a third-round pick for the veteran runner.
Denver’s deadline plans also took another hit when a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers for inside linebacker Daiyan Henley fell apart after a failed physical. Green Bay, meanwhile, stood pat despite its own issues at running back, with Josh Jacobs set to miss time after having surgery on his finger on Friday.
Tennessee’s stance on Pollard stood out given where the team sits. The Titans are 1-7 and are preparing to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, yet they still weren’t willing to drop their price on a player in the final season of his contract and set to enter free agency in 2027.
Pollard had already made clear where he wanted to stay. On Oct. 30, the day after Tennessee sent defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears, he told The Tennessean that a move would be hard to take, pointing to his family.
“First of all, I would be shocked, a little disappointed,” Pollard said. “Just thinking about my family, my kids, my wife. “I would get used to it later, but it would hurt in the moment.”
Even with that preference, Pollard knew the possibility was real.
“I don’t really have social media,” he said. “That’s how I keep myself clear-minded from everything.
“You know personally where you want to be, what you want to do, but just seeing (rumors), it can kind of trigger you a little bit sometimes. That’s just all part of being professional. That comes with the territory.”
Pollard, 29, has run for 595 yards and six touchdowns on 133 carries this season, while also adding 70 receiving yards on 13 catches.
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Broncos And Chargers Are Suddenly At Odds Over A Trade Collapse
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The disagreement has left the two sides at odds and the trade either voided or headed back to the drawing board, with the NFL Management Council consulted along the way. For Denver, it is a frustrating twist after looking ready to add a player who fit a clear need, while for the Chargers it raises the kind of medical dispute that can complicate any deadline or draft-day deal. No official league statement has come out, which leaves the situation hanging for now and the next step unclear. [Read more 🡒]