One of Brian Callahan’s goals heading into the last offseason was to reduce the workload of running back Tony Pollard.
The seven-year veteran put together one of his most productive seasons in 2024, posting a career high 1,079 yards and adding five rushing touchdowns. But Pollard also posted a career high number of carries (260), averaging more than 16 attempts per game.
Bothered by an ankle injury, Pollard was slowed during the last month of the 2024 season, as he averaged about 3.0 yards per carry and sat out Week 17.
So far this season, Pollard’s workload has increased rather than decreased, due to the ankle injury that landed running back Tyjae Spears on injured reserve heading into the season.
Pollard has been on the field for 89 percent of the team’s snaps through four games and averaged a career-high 17.0 rushes per contest. Perhaps that’s at least part of the reason he’s averaging 3.8-yards per attempt, well below his career average of 4.6.
But help may be on the way in the form of Spears’ fresh legs, as Callahan said Monday the team is likely this week to activate the 21-day practice window for Spears. Assuming that happens, Spears could play his first game as early as this Sunday when the Titans travel to Arizona.
Spears has been spotted on side practice fields several times over the past few weeks, working with trainers and running sprints.
“He’s done really well in the course [of recovery] — especially last week,” Callahan said. “Some of the workouts and stuff looked really, really good. He’d be a nice addition to get back on the field for us.”
The next question is just what the Titans should expect from a healthy Spears.
Overall, Spears’ 2024 season represented a step back from his rookie year of 2023, when the third-round pick averaged 4.5 yards per carry and caught 52 passes for 285 yards. He missed five games due to injury in 2024, and saw his yards per attempt drop almost a yard, to 3.7.
But Spears did flash toward the end of the 2024 season: He caught six passes for 87 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati in Week 15; accounted for 66 yards of offense and scored two touchdowns against Indianapolis in Week 16; and ran 20 times for 95 yards against Jacksonville in Week 17 before sitting out the season finale with his second concussion of the year.
Spears should provide a significant third-down option out of the backfield after averaging almost three catches per contest in the first 29 games of his career. For context, Pollard has just six receptions in four games this season.
But just as importantly, Spears will allow Pollard an occasional breather in the running attack, which is what Callahan wanted to see more of in 2025.
“I’d be pleased to see him back and help Tony [Pollard] out a bit too, because Tony’s doing a phenomenal job for us,” Callahan said. “[It would] be nice to get [Pollard] somebody to complement that.”