The Titans’ first three weeks have put them in an awkward spot, and that could turn Tony Pollard into a name worth watching as the NFL trade deadline approaches.
Tennessee is 0-3, the offense has had trouble moving the ball with any consistency, and Cam Ward hasn’t looked as good as the team expected in year two. If that slide continues, the Titans would be one of the cleaner sell candidates on the deadline market.
That’s where ESPN’s Dan Graziano comes in. He pointed to Pollard as a player who could be available if Tennessee is out of the race and comfortable with what it has in the backfield.
"If he's healthy and not in Tennessee's long-term plans beyond this season, Pollard is the kind of player who could be on the move," Graziano writes.
That gets to the two big boxes Tennessee would have to check: Pollard would need to be healthy, and the Titans would need to decide they’re not extending him beyond this season. If both of those things are true, moving the former Cowboys running back starts to make real sense.
The return wouldn’t be huge, but it would still likely beat whatever Tennessee might get later through compensatory draft-pick value. And for a team that looks built more for the long haul than a quick fix, that matters.
Around the league, the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and Green Bay Packers stand out as clubs that could use a back like Pollard. He hasn’t been elite in Tennessee, but he’s done enough to stay on the radar as a possible trade target.
If early November arrives and the Titans are still well outside the postseason picture, Pollard becomes even easier to imagine on the move. It would be a clear sign the season has gone off track, but with Tyjae Spears and Nicholas Singleton also in the mix, Tennessee could decide the draft capital is worth more than the rest of Pollard’s season.
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Titans Suddenly Have A New Offensive Line Problem Before Ravens Game
The Titans offensive line took another hit this week, and it comes at an especially inconvenient time. Tennessee placed right guards Fernando Carmona and Jackson Slater on injured reserve after both underwent surgery, leaving the team with two more unavailable pieces inside as it turns its attention to Baltimore.
Garrett Dellinger was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster to help fill the gap, but the move only underscores how thin the Titans are getting at right guard. With the Ravens on deck in Week 4, Tennessee now has a fresh protection problem to sort out before it can even get to game-planning for one of the leagues tougher fronts. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Face A Cam Ward Dilemma In Marvin Harrison Jr. Debate
The Titans slow start has only sharpened the focus on how they plan to support Cam Ward as the rebuilding season unfolds. At 0-3, Tennessee is already in a familiar spot for a team searching for long-term answers, and any discussion about adding help now inevitably circles back to whether the rookie quarterback has enough around him to grow into the job.
Marvin Harrison Jr. has surfaced in that conversation because multiple teams are said to be checking on his availability, with a day-three draft pick mentioned as a possible return for the Cardinals. For Tennessee, the appeal is obvious: a high-end receiver could accelerate Wards development and give the offense a much-needed jolt, but the fit also comes with real questions about whether a move like that makes sense while the quarterback is still struggling to find his footing. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Backfield Uncertainty Just Grew Ahead Of Ravens Game
Tyjae Spears was back on the practice field in a limited capacity this week, giving the Titans a small but important update as they prepare for a Week 4 trip to face the Ravens. Spears has been working back from an ankle injury, and his return to practice at least keeps him in the conversation as Tennessee sorts through its backfield plan for one of the tougher matchups on the schedule.
Robert Saleh still stopped short of saying Spears is ready to go, noting the running back has to clear a few more hurdles before his status can be finalized. If Spears is unable to play, Tony Pollard would be positioned for a bigger workload, leaving the Titans with another layer of uncertainty as they try to stabilize an offense that could use every healthy option it can get. [Read more 🡒]