Training camp hasn’t even opened, and Julius Chestnut is already staring at the toughest fight of his Titans run.
Tennessee’s running back room has a crowded feel to it, even before the pads come on. Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are lined up as the top two backs in Brian Daboll’s backfield, and the rookie addition of Nicholas Singleton only tightens the squeeze. The former Penn State runner was taken in the fifth round, which all but locks him into the 53-man roster - though that doesn’t automatically make him the No. 3 back.
That’s where the pressure starts to build for Chestnut.
The Titans also have Michael Carter and Kalel Mullings in the mix, and both bring something that could complicate Chestnut’s path. Mullings is a sophomore draft pick who may still have some runway with the roster, while Carter arrived this offseason after previously playing for new Titans head coach Robert Saleh with the New York Jets.
If Tennessee keeps only three running backs, Singleton’s presence gives the rookie a clear edge. If the team carries four, Chestnut may still be the odd man out.
Chestnut has done plenty to keep himself around. He first joined the Titans as an undrafted free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft and somehow made the 53-man roster as a rookie out of Sacred Heart.
He did it again in 2023, carving out the role of the team’s third back. In 2024, he stayed on the roster for a third straight year, played in all 17 regular-season games, and became a steady special teams piece while adding 102 rushing yards in limited work.
He’s back again in 2025 on another one-year deal, and his track record has included strong preseason showings and a reputation for never backing down. Still, the numbers and the roster math are working against him now.
Mullings is expected to help on special teams, and Carter’s game overlaps with Spears’ enough to matter, especially with Spears’ injury issues. That leaves Chestnut with a very narrow lane to survive another cutdown.
For a player who has built an inspiring run with Tennessee, this camp may be the hardest one yet.
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