Tony Pollard still looks like the Titans’ lead back, but the door is open for Tyjae Spears to carve out the biggest role of his Tennessee tenure in the new offense.
Pollard helped settle that picture in Tennessee’s preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers, when he pushed in an opening-drive touchdown. Even after an offseason that had him mentioned as a cut candidate, he remains in line to keep the starting job this season.
Still, the changes around him could make Spears one of the biggest winners on the roster. With Brian Daboll overseeing a rebuilt offense, the Titans are expected to lean more heavily on the passing game to fit Cam Ward, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Carnell Tate. That kind of setup plays directly into Spears’ strengths.
His receiving work has long been the defining part of his game in Tennessee. Last season, Spears finished with just 19 fewer receiving yards than rushing yards, putting up 283 through the air and 264 on the ground.
That doesn’t mean he’s limited as a runner. Against the 49ers, Spears was Tennessee’s most efficient back, gaining 35 yards on only four carries. He also found the end zone on the ground in the Titans’ most recent team practice after that preseason game.
Heading into his fourth season, though, the passing game remains where he can make the biggest impact. The Titans appear better equipped than ever to use him there, especially with Spears finally entering a season at full health.
That’s a notable shift after the injury issues that have followed him. He opened last season limited by an ankle sprain and also dealt with soreness during this year’s training camp, but he now seems ready to be available from Week 1.
He still contributed after returning in October last season, but Tennessee’s staff turnover and Ward’s adjustment as a rookie left little room for Spears to break out. This year feels different. Pollard is in the final year of his contract, the offense is being reshaped, and Spears’ skill set fits the direction of the unit.
Titans fans have already caught early signs of that growth in the team’s first appearances. And with Pollard, Nick Singleton, and Kalel Mullings all missing practice today, the backfield health is something to monitor as Tennessee heads toward game two.
As the preseason continues and the starters gradually see more snaps, Spears looks set for a larger workload and a bigger statistical jump.
In Other News...
Will Levis Just Got A Surprise Chance To Change Everything
Will Levis has spent much of his time in Tennessee trying to prove he still belongs in the conversation, and training camp suddenly handed him a fresh opening. The former No. 33 overall pick in the 2023 draft had a rocky 2024 season, throwing for 2,091 yards with 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions before major shoulder surgery wiped out his 2025 season.
With more reps now coming his way, Levis gets a chance to show the Titans he can still be part of their long-term picture before roster cuts arrive. The timing matters because camp can turn quickly for a quarterback, and for Levis, every snap now carries a little more weight than it did just a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Preseason QB Rotation Just Put One Roster Spot In Trouble
The Titans preseason opener offered an early look at how the quarterback room is shaking out, and the rotation told a pretty clear story about who is being treated like part of the plan. Cam Ward started, Hendon Hooker finished, and the other reps went largely to Mitchell Trubisky and Will Levis, the three passers who have been handling most of the work in practice and in game action. For a team still sorting out its depth chart, the distribution mattered more than the final score.
Hookers night was the kind that can speak loudly without anyone saying much at all. He remains on the outside of the main competition as Tennessee heads toward its final preseason game against the Chicago Bears on August 29, and the clock is ticking for players trying to force the staff to make a harder decision. The Titans still have one more exhibition to sort through the back end of the roster, but the quarterback group already looks like it has a hierarchy, and Hooker is not near the top of it. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Roster Battle Just Took A Turn After Camp Injuries
The Titans closed the preseason with a 19-13 win over the 49ers, and the game offered one more look at how the roster picture is taking shape after a summer of camp competition and injuries. Veteran holdovers and younger players alike kept battling for spots, and the final tuning of the 53-man roster by position now feels like one of the most important follow-ups to what was shown on the field.
Wide receiver remains one of the more interesting parts of that projection, with a new name now working into the mix as Tennessee sorts through the depth behind its established options. Elsewhere, the injury fallout from camp has already altered the conversation for a rookie defender, leaving the Titans to balance immediate roster needs with how much they can stash and develop as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]