Titans RB Tyjae Spears has career milestone taken away from him and his season ended by series of unfortunate events
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Titans second-year running back Tyjae Spears finally got the opportunity he had been waiting for on Sunday. After sitting behind Derrick Henry as a rookie and losing carries to Tony Pollard in 2024, Spears was finally presented with a chance to be the primary running back and carry a heavy workload for […]
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Titans second-year running back Tyjae Spears finally got the opportunity he had been waiting for on Sunday.
After sitting behind Derrick Henry as a rookie and losing carries to Tony Pollard in 2024, Spears was finally presented with a chance to be the primary running back and carry a heavy workload for the Titans against the Jaguars on Sunday.
Spears came into Sunday with a career-high of 16 carries and 75 rushing yards in one game (12/03/23 vs. Indy). With Pollard battling an illness, this was a big chance for Spears to show off the potential that got him drafted 81st overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and prove why he needs a bigger role in the future.
Things got off to a smashing start. Spears was running at an impressive clip and getting over five yards per carry. He was the Titans' primary source of offense through almost three full quarters. But as the second half unfolded, Spears had a career milestone taken away from him and his season ended by a series of unfortunate events.
For the first time in his NFL career, Spears surpassed 100 rushing yards in a game. He did it with his 19th carry of the afternoon as the Titans were driving late in the third quarter. But on a broken first down play, Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen got into the backfield and tackled Spears for a loss of five yards. It brought his 100-yard total back down to 95 yards and also put the second-year running back in the concussion protocol.
The celebration for Spears' milestone turned out to be a bit premature. He would not return to the ballgame and therefore finished with 95 rushing yards on 20 attempts.
But somehow that's not the worst of it. Spears also had his opportunity to be the primary running back ended…because head coach Brian Callahan told the media after the game that Spears will be out for Week 18. Therefore his season is over. That's not super surprising considering he just got concussed while wearing a concussion prevention "guardian cap"…But it's unfortunate for him nonetheless.
There always seems to be something that gets in the way of Tyjae Spears hitting his stride for the Titans. It has been injuries this season. He will finish the 2024 campaign with 312 rushing yards on 84 rushes (3.7 per) and five total touchdowns.
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