Tony Pollard’s name is suddenly sitting at the center of Tennessee’s backfield conversation, and if the Titans decide to move him for the reported asking price of a fourth-round pick, the ripple effect could be immediate.
That kind of deal would leave the Titans staring at a depth chart that already looks shaky. Tyjae Spears has been missing practices with regularity and hasn’t done much with his chances when he’s been on the field, which makes him a tough sell as the answer if Pollard is gone. Michael Carter has also worked his way into the mix, and Robert Saleh has already said Carter has more three-down value than Nick Singleton right now, which has helped Carter earn complimentary snaps.
Still, if Tennessee pulls the trigger on a Pollard trade, the rookie on the bench becomes the name to watch.
Singleton has barely been used so far, with just seven carries for 12 yards across two games. His most recent action came in the Titans’ Week 4 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, when he finished with four carries for 10 yards. That’s not much of a sample, but it’s also not enough to close the book on him.
The bigger point is simple: moving Pollard would blow the backfield wide open. Tennessee would be left sorting through a group of backs fighting over scraps, and the question becomes who deserves a real look if the job suddenly becomes available. Spears might be the obvious answer on paper, and Carter may feel like the safer option, but Singleton is the one the Titans still haven’t truly tested.
That matters because Tennessee used a fifth-round pick on him, and if they’re going to find out what they have, this is the moment. Otherwise, the next offseason could bring a new back into the room and push Singleton even further down the line before he ever gets a fair chance.
There’s also reason to believe the rookie has more in his bag than the current usage suggests. Singleton didn’t just arrive at Penn State; he left with the school record for career rushing touchdowns, total career touchdowns, and career all-purpose yards.
So if Pollard is dealt, Tennessee should at least give Singleton enough touches to see what he can do. Before the Titans bury him behind Kalel Mullings and Julius Chestnut, there’s a real case for letting the rookie run with it for a while. Chestnut, to his credit, has made an impact on special teams, but the backfield itself would still need answers.
With the deadline only four days away, Titans fans won’t be waiting long to find out whether that door opens for Singleton.
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