The Tennessee Titans barely made it halfway through their first preseason game before running into trouble. Tyjae Spears, the young running back expected to form a balanced rushing attack with Tony Pollard, left the Aug. 9 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after injuring his ankle.
What’s the latest on Spears’ status for the season opener, and is it possible he’ll miss multiple regular-season games?
Why Did Tyjae Spears Leave the Game Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
Things unraveled for Spears midway through the second quarter. On what should have been an ordinary play, he caught a screen pass and turned it into a 13-yard gain. He limped off before trainers helped him onto a cart, and he was later spotted with crutches and a boot on his right foot.
After the game, Tennessee took issue with the field conditions in Tampa. According to the team, the seams in the newly laid sod were visible, and it did not take long for players to feel the difference.
Spears missed five games in 2024 with various injuries, including concussions and a hamstring issue. The hope was that Spears could stay healthy this season so he could work alongside Pollard and give the Titans’ offense a boost.
Brian Callahan gave an update recently, saying Spears suffered a high ankle sprain. “He’s expected to miss some time here, a couple of weeks at least,” the Titans HC said, with final evaluations still to come.
READ MORE: Should I Draft Tyjae Spears? Fantasy Outlook for the Titans RB in 2025
The timing is tough for the Titans, since Callahan was intent on building a run game built around Pollard and Spears in 2025.
Latest update on Spears’ Injury
On Tuesday, Aug. 26, NFL insider Adam Schefter dropped a major injury update on Spears. The Titans running back is being placed on injured reserve, which means he will miss at least the first four games of the season.
“Sources: Titans RB Tyjae Spears, who suffered a high ankle sprain earlier this month and was spotted in a walking boot this weekend, is being placed on injured reserve, meaning he will be sidelined at least the first four games of the season,” Schefter wrote in a post on X.
The Titans’ first four games of the 2025 NFL season are these:
- Week 1: at Denver Broncos
- Week 2: vs. Los Angeles Rams
- Week 3: vs. Indianapolis Colts
- Week 4: at Houston Texans
Who Steps Up While Tyjae Spears Recovers from His Ankle Injury?
Pollard remains the main man in the backfield. Veterans Julius Chestnut and rookie Kalel Mullings will get opportunities behind him while Spears is out.
The Titans begin their regular season on Sept. 7, heading to face the Broncos. A healthy Spears would have given rookie quarterback Cam Ward another safety valve out of the backfield. Instead, Ward might have to rely on Pollard more heavily as he makes his debut.
Whenever Spears has been on the field, he has made plays. As a rookie in 2023, he tallied 838 scrimmage yards and brought energy to the Titans’ offense. The issue hasn’t been his skills — it’s about whether he can suit up and stay healthy.
Since Spears is expected to miss significant time, Tennessee could be forced to change its approach and maybe even look outside the current roster for help in the backfield.
Spears’ Fantasy Outlook
There was a brief window during the 2024 offseason where Spears looked like he was going to dominate touches in the Titans’ backfield after the team let Derrick Henry hit free agency. Those dreams were dashed once Tennessee signed Pollard to a contract to replace him.
Still, there was plenty of reason to be optimistic that Spears could carve out a fantasy-friendly role in Callahan’s offense. Pollard was coming off a poor season with the Dallas Cowboys, while Spears flashed efficiency (5.5 yards per touch and three total touchdowns as a rookie) and elusiveness (4.58 yards created per touch, RB5) in his first season.
Unfortunately, a series of injuries limited Spears to just 12 games played. His production was still strong (84 carries for 312 yards and four touchdowns), but he never quite broke into a larger role. Now, Spears is hurt once again, but the hope is that he can return soon in an offense that should be good for fantasy football.
The Titans upgraded their quarterback (Cam Ward) and added two more solid veterans to the offensive line (Dan Moore Jr. and Kevin Zeitler). Spears will once again be expected to split time with Pollard, but there should be a more balanced distribution of touches if he can stay healthy.
Unfortunately, a high ankle sprain in the first preseason game has once again created a reason for Spears as he will miss at least four games to start the season.
In fantasy, Spears is a high-end RB3 who can be an RB2 if Ward is the real deal and not afraid to utilize him on checkdowns. He could be more (especially if Pollard misses time), but he will need to be healthy to realize that potential.
