Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan addressed the media as training camp opened on Tuesday. The first-year head coach fielded a number of questions surrounding a roster that saw turnover at key positions.
Among those was the departure of superstar running back Derrick Henry, who signed with the Baltimore Ravens after spending his first eight years in Nashville.
In what figures to be one of the more compelling position battles in camp, Callahan was asked about the running backs room, specifically, if Tyjae Spears or Tony Pollard would be named the starting running back going into the season.
Callahan did not commit to either player at this time but indicated that both guys could see their fair share of playing time in the backfield.
“The fun part for me is: How are we going to deploy those guys?” Callahan said via Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. “Maybe they both play at the same time, maybe one gets hot and you let him run, maybe we just rotate back and forth. I don’t know what that’s going to look like yet. But they are both going to play quite a bit of football for us, and I don’t view either one of them as a starter or a backup. They are both starting players to me.”
With a franchise pillar in Henry exiting this offseason, it was a fair question, especially considering how pass-centric the NFL has become.
Spears had a solid rookie season in 2023, rushing for 453 yards on 100 carries and two touchdowns. The Tulane standout also hauled in 52 receptions for 385 yards and one touchdown.
Pollard joins the team after signing a three-year, $21.750 million contract in free agency. The 27-year-old, who played college football at Memphis, had a strong 2023 season in what was his first year as the feature running back for the Dallas Cowboys. Pollard rushed for 1,005 yards and scored six touchdowns, and he was also heavily involved in the passing game, bringing in 55 receptions for 311 yards.
Tennessee bolstered its offensive skill positions in the offseason to support second-year quarterback Will Levis as he takes over as the full-time starter in Callahan’s pass-first offense.
Despite this, Spears and Pollard are expected to have significant roles in the Titans’ new-look ground game this season. Both players will have the chance to display their skill set throughout training camp and the preseason.