Tyjae Spears is starting to look like the piece the Tennessee Titans have been waiting for.
Tennessee went into the offseason widely viewed as a team that might chase a big-name running back, whether that came in the 2026 NFL Draft or through free agency. That never materialized. Instead, the Titans added Day 3 back Nicholas Singleton and appear set to lean on Tony Pollard and Spears for at least one more season.
That setup didn’t exactly inspire a wave of optimism at first. But after what Spears has shown in training camp and in the preseason opener, the tone around him has changed fast.
Against the 49ers, Spears delivered the kind of play that turns heads immediately, spinning away from a tackle and bursting into space for a 25-yard gain on the opening drive. He kept that momentum rolling in practice this week, when Jim Wyatt reported that Spears hauled in a touchdown on a wheel route from quarterback Cam Ward. Wyatt also noted that Spears had six catches during Monday’s practice, which was his highest total of camp.
Those touches tell a story. Spears has been getting work as a receiver, lining up out wide and showing the kind of pass-catching ability that could make him a major part of the offense.
His value may not stop at third downs, either. The way he moves in space and the way the Titans are using him suggest he could get early-down work as well.
The workload in the preseason opener backs that up, too. Spears and Pollard split the reps evenly, a sign that Tennessee is serious about keeping both backs involved.
There’s also reason to think the environment around Spears could finally be better suited to his game. Brian Daboll has been clear that he wants to establish the run, and the opening preseason drive made that point pretty obvious.
Up front, the Titans also appear to have a stronger run-blocking group under offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo. For Spears, that would mean a first real chance to run behind an offensive line that can help him do more than just create on his own.
The biggest question, though, is the same one that has followed him for the last few seasons: can he stay healthy? The talent has flashed plenty of times, but nagging injuries have repeatedly interrupted his momentum at the worst possible moments. If Spears can hold up, there’s a real path for him to become one of the Titans’ top playmakers in 2026.
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