The Tennessee Titans found the kind of running game jolt they’ve been waiting for in Week 7, and Tony Pollard was right at the center of it.
Pollard turned in the fourth-most productive game of his career against the Cleveland Browns, piling up 129 yards and matching a career high with three rushing touchdowns. That outing pushed him up to 10th in the NFL in rushing yards this season, a notable climb after a game where the Titans finally looked capable of leaning on the ground game from start to finish.
The bigger story, though, is what sat behind those numbers. Tennessee’s offensive line has been one of the year’s most surprising developments, and against Cleveland it showed a new layer.
Peter Skoronski and JC Latham are hovering between Pro Bowl and All-Pro status, while Austin Schlottmann and Dan Moore have been at least average at center and left tackle, respectively. Once Fernando Carmona returns, the unit should be even better than it already has been.
That improvement has shown up in pass protection for a while. In Week 7, it showed up in the run game too.
The Titans weren’t just getting clean pockets - they were moving bodies. The Browns came in aggressive, and Tennessee’s front answered by creating real room for Pollard to work with. He helped himself, too, running through contact and staying on his feet to finish runs, but the lanes in front of him were a big part of why the day got away from Cleveland so quickly.
Tennessee scored touchdowns on back-to-back drives to open the game, and Cam Ward barely had to carry the load through the air on either possession. On those two drives, he was asked to pass just once per drive. One completion went to Carnell Tate, who turned it upfield for 15 yards, and the other was a seven-yard swing pass to backup running back Michael Carter.
That wasn’t a sign of hesitation from Ward. It was the Titans showing exactly what worked: a run-first approach built on an offensive line that was winning its matchups and setting the tone. On the other eight plays in those opening touchdown drives, Tennessee ran the ball, and that included rushing scores from 10 and 36 yards out.
There’s also room for the backfield to grow from here. Once Tyjae Spears is healthy, the Titans can add more versatility on the ground and make their play-action passing game more effective. Even without that wrinkle, Week 7 showed Tennessee can put together its best offensive days by living through the run, which also lessens the pressure on Ward.
There’s still a chance the team could move on from Pollard for a draft pick, but for now, he’s giving them exactly what they need at the position. With improved defense and a little more production in the passing game, this team isn’t going to be an easy out for anyone going forward.
In Other News...
Titans Suddenly Have A Real RB2 Debate Behind Tyjae Spears
Tyjae Spears was supposed to have a firmer grip on the Titans No. 2 running back job, but a knee injury and uneven play have opened the door for someone else. Michael Carter has been getting more work in recent games, and his ability to handle all three downs has caught attention from coach Robert Saleh. In a backfield that already leans heavily on Tony Pollard, the battle for touches behind him has become a real subplot.
Carters recent production has outpaced both Spears and rookie Nick Singleton, and that alone is changing the conversation about how Tennessee wants to structure its backfield. If Spears cannot get back to form, the Titans may have to decide whether Carter is simply a short-term fill-in or the more reliable option as RB2. The picture could shift again if Pollard is traded, which would only make this situation more important to watch in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Trade Buzz Now Centers On One Name Fans Wont Like
The trade chatter around the AFC South has widened beyond the usual deadline-day noise, with multiple NFL teams reportedly inquiring about deals for Colts receiver Josh Downs and Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. The latest buzz has also linked Jacksonville to a possible pursuit of Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne, adding another layer to a division already full of roster questions as teams weigh whether to buy, sell or stay put.
League sources have also put Jermaine Johnson, Tony Pollard and Alontae Taylor in the conversation as potential trade candidates, which only adds to the sense that the market could move quickly if one deal gets enough traction. For the Titans, it is another reminder that the division around them is not standing still, and any shift at the deadline could alter both the short-term race and the longer view of how these rivals are built. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Loom In One Of The NFLs Biggest Trade Decisions
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the league has already seen one of its most consequential in-season swings, as the Colts moved guard Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks for future draft picks and sent defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the 49ers for a draft pick. Deals of that size have a way of resetting the market, and they tend to invite every team with a meaningful decision to the center of the conversation.
For Tennessee, that matters because Jeffery Simmons is part of the wider trade discussion now forming around some of the leagues biggest names. Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Brian Thomas and Budda Baker are also being floated as potential candidates, with possible landing spots already being mapped out, but the bigger question is how aggressive teams become once a move like Seattles changes the temperature. The Titans may not be the only club watching closely, but they are firmly among the teams who need to know where that market is heading before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]