Tyjae Spears is running out of runway in Tennessee.
The Titans back is in a contract year in 2026, and so far there’s little sign that general manager Mike Borgonzi is headed toward a new deal for him next offseason. What once looked like a promising early-career path has turned into a rough stretch, with Spears now fighting just to change the conversation.
His tenure in Tennessee has been a mixed bag from the start. As a rookie behind Derrick Henry, he had some moments that hinted at more. But the next two seasons were supposed to bring a bigger role and better production, and injuries kept getting in the way.
This year, Spears has been available for all five Titans games, even while showing up on the injury report. The results haven’t helped his case.
He has 65 rushing yards on 17 carries, no rushing touchdowns, and two fumbles, with one lost. His 3.8 yards per carry is partly tied to a struggling run-blocking group, but it still doesn’t point toward a player locking down a future in Nashville.
There has been more value in the passing game. Spears has 14 catches for 68 yards, and his 4.9 yards per reception gives Tennessee at least one reliable checkdown option when the offense needs to stay ahead of the sticks.
The ground game as a whole has been ugly. Tennessee is averaging 82.6 rushing yards per game, which ranks 27th, and Spears is on pace to finish his third straight season below 4.0 yards per carry. He has also looked awkward in early-down spots, and his Week 5 fumble in the first quarter was a damaging mistake.
Tony Pollard still looks like the back who should get the bulk of the work.
And Spears is not the only running back whose future is unsettled. Pollard is also on an expiring contract, which puts both backs in the conversation as trade candidates before the deadline. Rookie Nicholas Singleton hasn’t done enough in limited action to look like the answer for 2027, either.
If Borgonzi lets Pollard and Spears walk next offseason, Tennessee will be staring at a full remake of the running back room. That reset could come through free agency or the 2027 NFL Draft.
At this point, the expectation is pretty clear: Spears is unlikely to be extended beyond his rookie deal. Unless something changes in a major way over the rest of the season, that outcome feels all but set.
In Other News...
Robert Saleh Just Put Titans Corners On Notice Before Colts
Through five games, the Titans pass defense has been leaning on its front and asking a lot from the back end, but the early returns at cornerback have been hard to ignore. Alontae Taylor and CorDale Flott have yet to break up a pass, and opposing quarterbacks have completed 80 percent of their throws when targeting them, a troubling stretch for a defense trying to find steadiness before Week 6 against the Colts.
Robert Saleh made it clear the expectations are rising, saying Tennessee needs more from both starting corners heading into a key divisional test. The timing matters, too, because the Titans pass rush has not been able to consistently take pressure off the secondary, with only 10 sacks in five games. Against Indianapolis, the corners are going to need to answer some of the questions that have been building all month. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Need Answers On Their Young Core Before This Season Slips Away
With a Week 6 division game against the Colts looming, the Titans are still in full evaluation mode as the losses pile up and the season starts to feel like one long audition. For a team sitting at the bottom of the AFC South, the focus has shifted to the young core, with quarterback Cam Ward, receiver Carnell Tate and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. all under the microscope as Tennessee tries to learn what it actually has.
Wards growth remains the most important piece, because the Titans cant move forward without clarity at quarterback, but the front office and coaching staff need answers across the roster too. Tate has shown enough to merit a closer look in the passing game, and Hill has become part of the defensive evaluation as well, which makes this stretch more about development than the standings. The problem is simple: if those young players do not keep trending the right way, Tennessee could run out of time before it figures out how to build the next version of this team. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Face A Brutal Week 6 Protection Question Against Houston
Liam Coens latest offensive line shuffle adds another layer of uncertainty to a Jaguars attack that has already had to keep adjusting on the fly. Walker Little is moving in at left tackle for Week 6 after Anton Harrison was set for knee surgery, a change that puts a premium on protection and communication just as Jacksonville heads into a matchup where the Texans front and overall defensive flexibility can make every snap feel a little longer.
Houston, meanwhile, keeps working through its own personnel moves, with DeMeco Ryans talking through the integration of Marvin Harrison Jr. after the receiver arrived from Arizona and rejoined C.J. Stroud. The Texans also got a small dose of good news on Jalen Pitre, who avoided surgery after an AC joint sprain, while Tank Dell was designated to return from injured reserve, leaving a lot of moving parts for a division game that could easily turn on who handles the trench and timing questions better. [Read more 🡒]