The Tennessee Titans lost a close game to the Houston Texans, and somehow, all of the attention is in the wrong place.
Social media and recap articles have all been focused on rookie quarterback Cam Ward and his up-and-down performance in the game, but there hasn't been nearly enough focus on the dismal running game.
Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears combined for 14 rushes for 25 yards, which is an embarrassing 1.8 yards per attempt. That can't happen to a backfield made up of a returning 1,000-yard rusher and an explosive former third-round pick, especially when they are behind a healthy offensive line.
Titans need to give rookie RB Kalel Mullings an opportunity
That is why it is serendipity that rookie running back Kalel Mullings is practicing and should make his return this weekend against the Seattle Seahawks.
While Spears is almost certain to be on the roster in 2026 because he is cheap and dynamic with the ball in his hands, the same isn't true for Pollard. The new regime won't see a gritty veteran that puts in the work day in and day out; they will see a running back nearing 30, who is averaging less than four yards per attempt, and who will free up $9 million in cap space if they cut him.
The Titans will need to figure out exactly what kind of running back they want to fill the void left by Pollard in 2026. In the meantime, Mullings should be given a chance to carve out a role.
In college, Mullings was a physical runner who ran behind his pads and wasn't afraid to do the dirty work. Instead of looking for cutback lanes or big plays, he was content to take what was being given to him and to find contentment in thumping a linebacker while he did it.
While no one is suggesting that the future of the Titans is a ground-and-pound offense, it is nice to have someone that you can trust to lower their head and hit the hole at full speed on 3rd-and-2. That is the role that Mullings could create for himself on this team, and the process of his evaluation should start this weekend against one of the toughest defenses in the NFL.