Tennessee’s rookie running back Nicholas Singleton went from preseason buzz to the bottom of the pecking order in a hurry.
Before Week 2, the Titans’ depth chart has Singleton sitting as RB4 behind Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears and Julius Chestnut. That lines up with what happened in the opener against the New York Jets, when Singleton was a healthy scratch for Tennessee’s home loss and Chestnut was active ahead of him.
The message from the Titans’ coaching staff is pretty straightforward at this point: Singleton is not in line for meaningful snaps right now. Head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll had already been tempering expectations throughout training camp, and Week 1 made the situation even clearer.
For now, the backfield belongs to Pollard and Spears. Tennessee plans to lean on those two against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2, and the current setup suggests that won’t change unless something shifts dramatically.
Pollard, despite the limited work he got in Week 1 after Tennessee fell behind by multiple scores, still made the most of his chances. He ran for 35 yards on seven carries, averaging five yards per attempt.
The Titans have no obvious reason to scale back his workload, either. He’s being treated as the workhorse in Daboll’s backfield, and the team will likely try to establish him against Philadelphia in an effort to stay competitive.
Spears remains the change-of-pace option, a quicker complement to what Pollard brings. If the Titans keep losing, there’s at least a path to more youth getting involved on offense, which could eventually open the door for Singleton.
That said, both Pollard and Spears are in contract years. The expectation is that each could be gone in free agency next offseason, and if Tennessee’s rebuilding season keeps trending in the wrong direction, either back could even become a trade candidate before the deadline.
There is still a reason for the Titans to want a look at Singleton at some point. This season is about helping build around young quarterback Cam Ward, and with Pollard and Spears serving as temporary answers, there’s value in figuring out what Singleton can become long term.
Just not this week. Based on where things stand now, Singleton’s chance to make an impact against the Eagles looks remote. The patience from the fan base will have to continue, even if the rookie eventually finds his way into the offense.
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Titans Need A Week 2 Response And These Playmakers Could Deliver
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