The Tennessee Titans’ offense has been stuck in the mud, and the run game has been a major reason why. At 0-5, Tennessee ranks 27th in the NFL in rushing offense, a number that underscores just how little help the ground attack has given Cam Ward.
That problem only gets sharper when you look ahead. Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are both on expiring contracts, and it’s hard to see GM Mike Borgonzi bringing either one back after the season they’ve put together. If the Titans want to give Ward more support, the backfield could be one of the spots they attack next offseason.
One name to keep in mind is Brian Robinson Jr. The Atlanta Falcons back has 210 rushing yards and four touchdowns this season while working behind Bijan Robinson, and he’s likely to search for a larger role next offseason. He may not be a true bellcow, but he would still be an upgrade over what Tennessee has now.
Zach Charbonnet is another player who could be on the Titans’ radar. The Seattle Seahawks running back is set to return from the torn ACL he suffered during last year’s playoffs, and the league will be watching closely to see how he looks. Seattle has not shown a willingness to keep running backs on second contracts, and with Kenneth Walker III gone and Jadarian Price drafted in the first round, Charbonnet looks headed for the open market.
Then there’s Chase Brown, who may be the most intriguing back of the group. He’s playing on an expiring contract, and the Cincinnati Bengals may not have the room to keep him after committing so much money to Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. Brown would give Tennessee a true dual-threat option, even if he’s currently struggling in 2026.
In Other News...
Cam Ward Is Already Facing A Brutal Titans Reality
Cam Wards first month as the Titans starter has been a rough follow-up to the hype that came with being the 2025 No. 1 overall pick. Through five weeks of the 2026 season, he has completed 63.2% of his passes for 896 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions, and Tennessees 0-5 start has only sharpened the scrutiny around a young quarterback expected to steady the franchise.
The pressure has become impossible to miss, especially after Sports Illustrateds Matt Verderame ranked Ward last among NFL starting quarterbacks. With the losses piling up and no early signs of a turnaround, the conversation in Tennessee is already drifting to what comes next if Ward cannot clean things up quickly, including whether Robert Saleh would eventually turn to Mitch Trubisky for a different look under center. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Face A Painful Veteran Decision As 0-5 Start Changes Everything
The Titans 0-5 start has already altered the conversation in Nashville, turning what once looked like a season with at least some playoff hope into an early look at where the roster goes from here. For general manager Mike Borgonzi, that means the next few weeks could be less about chasing wins now and more about deciding whether veteran pieces such as Tony Pollard, Jermaine Johnson and Calvin Ridley still fit the long view.
Those are not simple calls. Each player carries a different mix of production, contract considerations and market appeal, which is why the trade rumors have started to build even without any confirmed moves. Tennessee does not have to sell off anything immediately, but with the losses piling up, the front office is being pushed toward a harder kind of inventory check than anyone wanted this early in the year. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Just Became The Team Opponents Barely Even Celebrate Beating
The Texans Week 5 win over Tennessee came with the kind of tone that tends to sting beyond the final score. Houston safety Calen Bullock pointed to his teams defensive performance after the game, but the bigger story for the Titans was the way they were handled on that side of the ball. Houston held Tennessee to 187 yards and piled up four sacks while earning its first win of the season, a reminder of how far the AFC South rivals have diverged early on.
For Tennessee, the loss dropped the club to 0-5 and added another chapter to a brutal start that has left little room for celebration around opponents who beat it. The Texans will move on to Jacksonville in Week 6, but the Titans are left searching for answers after another game in which the offense never found much traction and the result felt, from the other sideline, almost routine. [Read more 🡒]