Entering his third year on the team, this Tennessee Titans running back is looking for his breakout season. After playing just 12 games last year, Tony Pollard picked up the slack as RB1.
Pollard now has three straight 1,000+ yard seasons. He might not be the most exciting or talked about back in the league, but he knows how to get the job done. If his counterpart remains healthy, there’s no reason the 24-year-old can’t have a breakout season.
Titans Insiders Keeping an Eye on Tyjae Spears
Tyjae Spears was the Titans No. 81 pick back in 2023. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry in his rookie season, finishing with 100 carries for 453 yards. While he played in five less games last season, he was able to double his amount of touchdowns.
The former Dallas Cowboys running back has consistently played 15+ games a season. If Pollard were to go down with an injury, the Titans RB depth relies on Spears remaining healthy.
#Titans RB Tyjae Spears continues to have an incredible training camp, by all accounts.
Would be HUGE for the offense if Spears is healthy and himself this season. pic.twitter.com/x3R7sBmF6R
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) August 3, 2025
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Justin M, author of Titans of the South, is one of many to report on Spears incredible performance in camp. The Tulane graduate stands 5’11” 195-pounds. He’s much smaller than the 6′ 209-pound lead back, however, his explosiveness is off the charts.
Both of Spears’ seasons have seen him be used in the passing game as well. He has two career receiving touchdowns on 82 receptions. In a smaller sample size last year, he was targeted 35 times, half the number he was in 2023.
Cam Ward coming to down will drastically impact their performances. If Brian Callahan figures out how to use Spears and Pollard, they could become one of the most respected RB duos in the league. So far though, the Titans HC has been less than pleased with the offense.
Tyjae Spears Speaks on His Explosiveness
Just a few days ago, Titans reporter, John Glennon, posted an interview with Spears. The running back took questions from the media after practice as he gave Titans fans a lot to think about.
Tyjae Spears on why he’s looked more explosive early in camp: pic.twitter.com/AziPj9PHEL
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) July 29, 2025
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“I stopped worrying about everyone else and started worrying about myself,” Spears said. “Just calm down and focus on the things that you can do and the things you can control.”
He continued, “Once you focus on the things you can control, everything else, I ain’t gonna say everything is going to be controllable, but everything else is going to start to slow down.”
Concussions were one of many injuries that Spears had to work through last season. Other than head injuries, he dealt with ankle and hamstring issues. Back at Tulane, he tore his ACL twice. With an ACL tear in 2015 and the other in 2020, the Titans would love to see a healthy Spears heading into 2025.
Tyjae Spears #Titans
Fascinating injury history
Torn ACL in 2015 (unknown side)
Torn RIGHT ACL in 2020 + meniscus
Was the 2015 injury the same as the 2020? What graft choice was used for each (cadaver, quad, patellar)?
Spears himself confirmed last year at the Combine… pic.twitter.com/85RqELMM6a
— Jesse Morse, M.D. (@DrJesseMorse) February 27, 2024
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Last year, Dr. Jesse Morse, M.D. broke down all of Spears injuries. The sports medicine physician had a fascinating post on everything the running back has endured throughout his career.
One of Ward’s premier training camp highlights came on August 1 when Ward threw a bomb to him in the endzone. It’s safe to say that no one has impressed as much as Spears this camp, with his health remaining the only X-Factor.
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