Tony Pollard put together the kind of game that gets a front office talking, even if it doesn’t settle anything by itself.
Against Cleveland, the Tennessee back ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns, then added three catches for 26 yards. It was a 25-carry workload in a loss, but it still showed he can shoulder a heavy load. For the Giants, that matters because Tyrone Tracy Jr. is on injured reserve, and the deadline conversation at running back is now very much alive.
Still, one big outing doesn’t make Pollard the cure for everything in New York’s backfield.
Cam Skattebo just rushed for 124 yards in the overtime win at Houston, Devin Singletary is still on the roster, and the Giants also added Gregory Desrosiers from the Chargers’ practice squad. Any move they make has to raise that group enough to justify giving up draft capital. A familiar name by itself won’t be enough.
Ed Valentine floated Pollard as a possible option in the market, but that’s only an analyst’s idea, not a sign that the Giants and Titans are actually working on a deal.
The real question is what Tennessee would ask for, and whether that price makes sense compared with the help New York could use on the defensive front. General manager Joe Schoen has already talked about operating without his 2027 fourth- and fifth-round picks, which makes even a short-term rental feel costly in a hurry.
There’s also a case for standing pat. Skattebo’s performance in Houston suggests the Giants do not need to treat running back like a full-blown emergency, and Singletary plus Desrosiers give the staff some cover while Tracy recovers. None of them replaces Tracy’s workload on their own, but the group is functional.
Pollard would bring receiving ability and recent production, and that combination could appeal to a young quarterback. But his availability and price remain unknown. If Tennessee wants a premium pick, the Giants may be better off keeping their resources and looking elsewhere, starting with the defensive line.
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Schoen has generally been cautious in-season, and the organization has not exactly built a deep reservoir of impact from late-round draft picks. That is why the most practical path may be the simplest one, using modest draft capital to bring in a veteran who can strengthen the roster right away and fit a team trying to turn first-place positioning into staying power. [Read more 🡒]