Titans' Tyjae Spears: Cedes key snaps to Pollard

Spears rushed four times for 12 yards and caught his only target for 12 yards in Sunday's 30-27 preseason win over the Saints.

Spears watched Tony Pollard play the opening drive and score a one-yard rushing touchdown before checking in for the second possession. While Spears played most of the second drive with the first-team offense, the Titans opted to put Pollard back in for a fourth-and-1, and Pollard rewarded that decision with a 14-yard catch to extend the possession. Spears also got a couple reps with second-string quarterback Mason Rudolph on the third drive, and his lone reception came on a pass from Rudolph. The team's decisions to start Pollard and bring the veteran free-agent signing in for a key fourth-down situation suggest Spears is running behind in Tennessee's backfield timeshare heading into the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Bears, but both running backs are expected to play prominent roles as the Titans begin the post-Derrick Henry era.