Ex-Pro Bowler weighs in on Tennessee Titans' Tony Pollard
The Titans' rushing attack was one of the most consistent facets of their game in 2024, and should be better this season with a better offensive line and, hopefully, more consistent quarterback play with Cam Ward. Both Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears were solid and did their best to keep the offense afloat last season, and are looking for more production in 2025.
Advertisement
Pollard was a bright spot on offense in 2024, coming in as a free agent and rushing for over 1,000 yards. Sure, he wasn't Derrick Henry, but he did produce in less-than-ideal conditions.
But how does Pollard stand up against his peers? Former Pro Bowl running back Maurice Jones-Drew of NFL.com broke down the starters across the league and came up with his running back rankings.
Rank 23 - Tony Pollard
Tennessee Titans · Year 7
2024 stats: 16 games | 260 att | 1,079 rush yds | 4.2 ypc | 5 rush TDs | 41 rec | 238 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 2 fumbles lost
Pollard was a bright spot last season for a Titans offense that seriously sputtered, recording his third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaign. The veteran running back should again get ample opportunity to pound the rock under Brian Callahan, helping No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward settle in at quarterback.
With the improvements made to the offensive line, Pollard could be in line for a more productive season in 2025. He looked healthy during OTAs and minicamp, and looked more explosive than he did in 2024. One thing that is worth keeping an eye on is his usage. Head coach Brian Callahan has spoken about keeping the running backs healthy and creating a more balanced workload between Pollard and Spears this season.
Both Pollard and Spears battled some nagging injuries last season, and a more balanced approach could allow for more sustained production throughout the season. Another potential benefit could be the addition of rookie Kalel Mullings, who appears poised to take over the short-yardage carries.
Advertisement
Mullings is a bruiser, and the former linebacker can help save Pollard (or Spears) from taking a pounding with short-yardage carries.
Coming in at No. 23 to start the season is a fair assessment entering training camp with all of the unknowns existing on the Titans' offense. If everything falls into place as expected, Pollard surpassing 1,000 yards for a fourth consecutive season should be well within reach, and he should easily outperform this ranking.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Ex-Pro Bowler weighs in on Tennessee Titans' Tony Pollard
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
11 minutes ago
- UPI
Pittsburgh Steelers cut All-Pro returner Cordarrelle Patterson
1 of 5 | Cordarrelle Patterson (84) appeared in 13 games last season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo July 28 (UPI) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers released running back and All-Pro kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson, he announced Monday. Patterson appeared in 13 games last season. "Breaking news: Pittsburgh Steelers release old, washed-up Cordarrelle Patterson on his day off," the 12-year veteran wrote on X. Patterson, 34, signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Steelers last off-season. The Steelers saved about $3 million in salary cap space by releasing the veteran. The four-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection did not participate in Steelers organized team activities or training camp practices. Patterson, who was limited by an ankle injury in 2024-25, averaged a career-worst 21.8 yards per kick return last season. His 284 kick returns, 8,229 yards off kick returns and 29 yards per attempt are most among active players. His nine kick returns for touchdowns are the most in NFL history. Patterson totaled 44 touches for 215 yards from scrimmage on offense for the Steelers in 2024-25. He logged a career-best 1,166 yards from scrimmage and 11 scores on 205 touches in 2021 for the Atlanta Falcons. The No. 29 overall pick for the Minnesota Vikings in the 2013 NFL Draft also played for the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots and Chicago Bears.
NBC News
11 minutes ago
- NBC News
Colorado coach Deion Sanders had bladder cancer 'cured' after surgery
Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders announced Monday he was diagnosed with bladder cancer and had surgery to remove his bladder. His doctors announced the procedure resulted in Sanders being "cured." "We're going to beat it, aren't we?" Sanders asked Dr. Janet Kukreja on stage at a news conference in Boulder. "It's beaten," she answered. Sanders, 57, said he expects to coach on the sidelines next season. Sanders played 14 seasons in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens. A star defensive back, he earned six All-Pro honors and nine Pro Bowl teams while leading the 49ers and Cowboys to Super Bowl victories in 1994 and 1995, respectively. He was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 2011. Sanders was named head coach of Jackson State in Mississippi in 2020 and helped turn around the FCS program. After a 4-3 first season (that was shortened due to COVID), he led the Tigers to an 11-2 record in 2021 with a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. They repeated as titleholders the next year with a 12-1 record. Colorado hired Sanders in 2023 to lead the Buffaloes. Despite a 4-8 initial year, the Buffaloes went 9-4 in 2024 with an Alamo Bowl appearance. Sanders' son, Shadeur Sanders, threw for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns with 10 interceptions en route to being named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders was not with Colorado in June due to an unspecified health issue, he said on social media. 'Wow, I am truly blessed for the abundance of well wishes, for all the thoughts and all of the prayers,' Sanders wrote. 'THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! 🙏🏾 I can assure you all that everything is OKAY and will continue to be so. God got me like no other. I have so much more work to do to Glorify God so please believe God got me! I'm excited to get back to Colorado to be at home with my staff, team & all associated to our program. When we arrive back to Boulder you will be updated on everything. Until then, I'M COMING BABY, #CoachPrime.' In a video released by Sanders' son, Deion Sanders Jr., on Sunday, Sanders said he had made a will. 'Mentally, emotionally, last night was tough, yesterday was tough, because I had to make a will,' he said in a video. 'That's not easy at all, to think that you may not be here.' Sanders in March that runs through the 2029 season.
USA Today
40 minutes ago
- USA Today
Pro Bowl WR says Jalen Hurts is a Top 5 QB with a Tom Brady-like impact on the Eagles
Former Falcons star Roddy White weighed in on the Jalen Hurts debate by saying the Super Bowl winning QB is elite, and doesn't make mistakes in crunch time Roddy White is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and was named an All-Pro in 2010, when the former Falcons star led the NFL in receptions with 115 and the NFC in receiving yards with 1,389, also scoring 10 touchdowns that year. White caught passes from Matt Ryan and knows a good quarterback when he sees one. During a recent interview with Vegas Insider, White discussed the Falcons roster, NFL wide receivers, and weighed in on the Jalen Hurts debate by saying the Super Bowl-winning quarterback is "most definitely elite, and that he doesn't make the same mistakes other quarterbacks do in crunch time." "Jalen Hurts is definitely a top five quarterback in the NFL. It's like a Tom Brady effect when you do what you need to do for your team to win and Hurts does that really well. "Hurts is very good at reading a football game. If he has to go out there and throw for 350 yards, he's very capable of that. However, if they have to run the ball and Saquon Barkley goes off for 200 yards and Hurts only throws for 150, he's ok with that. "It's all about whatever it takes to win the game and Hurts doesn't get enough credit for this and for how good he is at reading football games. Hurts, crowned Super Bowl LIX MVP, became just the second QB in Eagles history to deliver a Super Bowl Championship to the City of Philadelphia, joining Nick Foles (Super Bowl LII MVP). According to Elias Sports, Hurts is only the seventh NFL QB to appear in multiple Super Bowls and win a championship in their first five seasons. The other QBs who did so are Troy Aikman, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner, and Russell Wilson.
