Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears had a fantastic rookie season during the 2023 NFL campaign. Spears played in all 17 games this year. His growth was critical next to veteran Derrick Henry and showed off his versatility and toughness while playing through injuries.
Spears’ sophomore season saw him pile up 453 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He had a career high of 95 rushing yards on 20 carries versus Jacksonville. Overall, this was a strong performance from Phillips that demonstrates his ability to be a difference maker in the Titans’ backfield. He turned himself into a valuable weapon in the passing game. He racked up 52 catches for 385 yards and scored another receiving TD to his tally.
Spears’ road to success in 2023 was not without its challenges. He struggled through a lost season of injuries. These all featured two concussions, an ankle sprain and a hamstring problem—which limited his overall touches to a meager 114. He really discovered his stride towards the end of the year and scored a touchdown in four of his last three games. This performance showed the world his knack for succeeding in the clutch.
Even accounting for his injury history, Spears was projected to make a huge impact in both the run and pass game for Tennessee. His previous experience at Memphis, where he shared carries with Darrell Henderson Jr., prepared him for the dual-threat role utilized by Tennessee’s coaching staff.
Brian Callahan, the Titans’ offensive coordinator, praised Spears for his offseason work and said he’s excited for the rookie to continue developing.
“I’ve been really pleased with where Tyjae is at,” – Brian Callahan.
Callahan pointed to a need for better managing the workload between Spears and Henry as a priority to improve on going forward. At the combine, he articulated his plan to find a “healthier division of labor” in the backfield to best utilize both players’ talents.
“I like really both of those players a lot,” Callahan added. “I think we can do a better job of managing that load so they both play a little more evenly and allows us to maybe have a spot for a third back between Julius Chestnut and Kalel Mullings, a heavier style back and runner.”
As the Titans make plans for the 2024 season, keeping Spears’ makers will be tantamount to their success on offense. When healthy, he gives the Titans an electric option that can balance out Henry’s powerful, between-the-tackles running style. Spears’ ability to contribute in multiple facets of the game makes him an integral part of the Titans’ future strategy.
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