Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard has been an unsung hero for his team this season.
Pollard signed a three-year, $21.75 million contract with Tennessee in the offseason after back-to-back seasons with 1,000+ rushing yards in Dallas. Through the first half of the 2024 regular season, Pollard has been worth every penny.
The 27-year-old veteran running back has 622 rushing yards and 135 receiving yards through the first eight games of the season. That has him in the Top 10 across the league and on pace for over 1,300 rushing yards on the year. Over Tennessee's last five, Pollard is averaging 92.8 yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry.
Pollard is also the NFL leader in yards gained after contact...a true testament to how impressive he has been, often putting the team on his back and making something out of nothing.
Pollard against New England
Against the New England Patriots in Week 9, Pollard had his best game to date in the two-tone blue. He finished the day with 128 rushing yards on 28 carries and 26 receiving yards. That was enough to propel Tennessee to a 20-17 victory in overtime, and Pollard did it all without practicing in the week leading up to the game.
Pollard has been dealing with a foot injury and was unable to practice all week. But he assured his teammates throughout the week that he would be good to play.
"TP...Props to TP, man. That's what we need. You got Tyjae [Spears], who's out. TP didn't practice all week. I was seeing him and talking to him throughout the locker room like 'you playing?' He was like 'hell yeah, I'm playing,'" said Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons after the game. "Just to be able to have someone in the locker room that gives his all. We know he's going through a lot. We know he's banged up. But when he gets on the field...I haven't seen nothing like it."
Increased workload
As Simmons mentioned, running back Tyjae Spears - who was supposed to split carries with Pollard this season - has been out with a hamstring injury. Spears left the game early against the Indianapolis Colts and has missed three contests since.
That has led to a bigger workload for Pollard, who is banged up but answering the bell.
"Tony's carrying the ball a lot, you see it. It's wearing on him at this point and we'd like to get Tyjae back to help that and let those guys rotate more," said Brian Callahan in his press conference on Monday. "I wouldn't say [Spears] had a setback. It's just the nature of hamstrings where you try to open and try to go, and then you feel it and it doesn't feel as good the next day and it's just kind of up and down thing with soft tissue. Hopeful that we have a chance to see him again this week. But I was hopeful last week, so I'll refrain from being hopeful at this stage and we'll just see where he comes out at the end of the week."
As much as the Titans would like to take some of the load off of Pollard's shoulder, you better believe that his teammates are taking note of the way he has stepped up.
"He is the one of the toughest guys I've ever played with," said Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph after the win on Sunday. "And such a great countenance and a positive light that he brings to the locker room. He's in there early before anyone else working on his body."
It's nice to see Pollard getting his flowers. They are well deserved. While the Titans are being fairly criticized for spending a lot of money in the offseason just to open the year 2-6, it's safe to label the Pollard signing as a raging success. There's a case to be made that he has been the MVP of the team so far.
The Titans backfield is in good hands, even with Derrick Henry thriving in Baltimore.
