The Tennessee Titans may finally have a path to Nick Singleton in Week 4, but it all starts with Tyjae Spears’ ankle.
That backfield has been steady enough to hold together the Titans’ early season, with Tony Pollard carrying the load in the final year of his contract. Spears has sat in the obvious next spot on the depth chart, yet Tennessee’s decision to draft Singleton out of Penn State earlier this year made it clear there was at least some thought about the rookie becoming part of the long-term picture. Now, with Spears questionable for the Ravens game, Singleton could be the one who gets the opening.
The opportunity has been there before, and it never quite arrived. Last week against the Giants, Pollard handled an unusual 17 carries while Spears got only three, and Singleton never touched the ball. That came after Singleton made his season debut in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles, when he logged four carries in the third quarter for 10 yards before going back to the sideline.
Even after that outing, Robert Saleh stayed positive on the rookie, praising Singleton after the game and hinting that bigger usage could be coming in New York. Instead, Singleton disappeared from the game plan the following week, leaving the Titans right back where they started.
This time, though, the setup looks different. Saleh said Spears would have to "clear some hurdles" to play in Baltimore, and that is a real distinction from last week. If Spears is out, Singleton’s path to meaningful snaps becomes a lot clearer.
There is also a fresh layer of depth behind him. Veteran back Michael Carter was promoted to the Titans’ active roster earlier this week, a move that fits the idea of Spears being unavailable. But Carter does not appear to be in line to challenge Singleton for the extra work if the rookie is active and ready.
Saleh has already shown he is willing to put rookies on the field, and Week 4 looks like Singleton’s best shot yet at real playing time. With rain expected in Baltimore, the Titans could lean on the ground game even more. If that happens, Singleton might go from no touches last week to a meaningful workload in what would be just his second regular-season game.
In Other News...
Ryan Clark Turns Up The Heat On Cam Ward And The Titans
The Titans winless start kept getting more familiar Sunday in Baltimore, where a sluggish opening turned into another loss and another round of criticism for a team still searching for traction. Cam Wards day began with an early interception and ended with modest production in a 24-18 defeat, as Tennessee fell to 0-4 and watched the Ravens control enough of the game before Lamar Jackson exited with an ankle injury.
Even with Jackson leaving and Tyler Huntley stepping in, the Titans could not swing the result back in their favor, leaving more frustration around a young quarterback trying to settle in and a roster still looking for answers. Ward finished with 222 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but the bigger issue remains the same for Tennessee: the performances are not matching the urgency of a team that has yet to put a win on the board. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Ward Just Gave Titans Fans A New Reason To Worry
After the Titans loss to the Ravens, Cam Ward had another moment that will linger with Tennessee fans as much as the result itself. The rookie quarterback met with the media afterward and, before settling in to answer questions, initially said he would leave if the wait stretched beyond three minutes. He stayed, but the exchange added a little more edge to a frustrating night for a team still trying to find its footing.
Ward also addressed the interception he threw in the game and circled back to the bigger issue facing Tennessee: the need to eliminate the kind of bad plays that keep putting the Titans behind. It was the sort of postgame reflection that sounded honest enough, but the kind of honesty that also reminds everyone how much work remains. Next up is Houston, and the Titans will be looking for cleaner football before that matchup arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Keep Finding Painful New Ways To Waste Their Chances
The Titans early-season frustration only deepened in Baltimore, where another loss pushed Tennessee to 0-4 and added a fresh layer of regret to a team already searching for answers. This one had the familiar mix of self-inflicted wounds and missed opportunities: a late interception, special teams penalties, offensive stagnation after halftime and a game that kept slipping away while former Titan Derrick Henry found the end zone for the Ravens.
Carnell Tate gave Tennessee a reason to keep leaning in with a standout effort, even if a costly fumble undercut it, and the coaching side only added to the unease. Brian Dabolls decisions were part of the conversation throughout the night, as the Titans once again seemed to find new ways to turn a winnable stretch into another empty result. For a team trying to stop the bleeding, the bigger problem is that the defeats are starting to look different only in the details. [Read more 🡒]