Free Agent Replacements For Titans Running Back Chris Johnson

Dec 1, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans running back Ben Tate (44) runs with the ball for a fourth quarter touchdown against the New England Patriots at Reliant Stadium. The Patriots beat the Texans 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Ben Tate, RB, Houston Texans

Here is another name that the Titans know very well. Every time the Titans and Texans face off, Tate seems to rip off a long run on our defense, which is usually sturdy against their ground attack. Tate has been stuck behind Arian Foster for most of his first three seasons in Houston, but has performed more than admirably in his spot starts. He gutted out the latter half of this year with several cracked ribs for a battered Texans team that finished 2-14.

Tate has the looks of a potential feature back, and would be a nice piece to the Titans running game. That being said, there is his issue of ball-security problems. He’s already lost six fumbles in his young career, and that’s rather alarming for a Titans team that has preached ball control and time of possession. Might that scare away the team from signing a potentially top-caliber running back? Does the reward outweigh the risk?