The Tennessee Titans walked out of Week 7 with a 27-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns, and the pain was easy to spot. Tennessee had a 14-0 lead and still let the game slip away. But buried inside the disappointment was something the offense can actually build on: a real breakout from Tony Pollard.
The Titans scored 24 points, their highest total of the season. That figure needs a little context - they put up 26 against the Colts last weekend, but one of those touchdowns came on a blocked punt return. Sunday’s output was the cleanest showing the offense has had all year.
Pollard was the engine. Tennessee ran for 141 yards, and the veteran back accounted for 129 of them while scoring three touchdowns.
He also did it efficiently, averaging more than 5.0 yards per carry. It was easily his most productive game since arriving in Tennessee.
That kind of ground game took heat off Cam Ward. The young quarterback still had a few shaky moments, but he also delivered several big-time throws in the second half. With Pollard rolling, Ward didn’t have to carry everything himself.
Before Week 7, the Titans had not been running the ball with much consistency. This was a breakout day for Pollard, especially with Tyjae Spears and Nicholas Singleton inactive. It also echoed the way Pollard and Tennessee’s run game got going late last season, when that offensive line included Dan Moore, Peter Skoronski, and JC Latham.
There’s also hope the line eventually gets Fernando Carmona back. If Brian Daboll’s offense keeps moving the ball on the ground like this, the scoring should start to follow. The Titans have reached 20 points in only four of seven games this season.
In the end, Tennessee had enough offense to win. Pollard and the line did their part against Cleveland.
But the passing game and the defense both failed in key moments, and that’s why the Titans are left searching for what could have been. Still, this looked like progress.
In Other News...
Titans May Have Found A Defensive Line Answer Robert Saleh Needed
The Titans dipped into the waiver wire for another body on the defensive front, claiming defensive tackle Jonah Laulu after releasing Timmy Horne. It is a small roster move on paper, but for a team still searching for more consistent push up front, it could turn out to matter more than the usual late-season churn.
Laulu arrives with some usable production already on his rsum, including 5.5 career sacks and a half-sack this season, and he played in all 17 games for the Raiders in 2025. For a defensive line trying to give Robert Saleh more dependable options, the appeal is obvious, even if the real question is how quickly he can carve out a role once he gets to Tennessee. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Just Made A Jeffery Simmons Decision Fans Will Debate
The Titans have made a massive move in their rebuilding effort, agreeing to send defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Bears in a trade that brings back a hefty package of draft capital. Chicago is sending two first-round picks and a 2027 fourth-rounder to Tennessee, with the Titans also sending a 2028 fifth-round pick back the other way, and it is the kind of deal that instantly changes the shape of both franchises.
Simmons had recently signed a contract extension with Tennessee, which only adds another layer to what this decision means for the Titans future. For a team trying to reset its roster, adding multiple premium picks is the kind of return that can speed up a rebuild, but moving on from one of its cornerstone defenders will not sit easily with fans who viewed him as part of the long-term foundation. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Could Flip Another Productive Veteran In Fire Sale
After dealing Jeffery Simmons to the Bears, the Titans have made it clear they are open for business as they stockpile draft capital, now holding two first-round picks in each of the next two years. That kind of reset naturally puts the spotlight on other veterans who could draw interest before the market closes, and Tony Pollard stands out as one of the more productive names still in Tennessees backfield.
Pollard has been giving teams a reason to call, too, with a recent outing that included a season-high 129 rushing yards and three touchdowns. If the Titans decide to keep moving pieces, a running back with that kind of recent production could appeal to clubs looking for an immediate boost, with the Commanders and Vikings among the teams being linked as possible fits. [Read more 🡒]