Titans’ Tony Pollard talks replacing Derrick Henry, sharing a backfield

In what was the first reported signing of their offseason, the Tennessee Titans inked running back Tony Pollard to a three-year, $21.7 million deal to pair him with 2023 third-round pick and standout, running back Tyjae Spears.

Sharing a backfield is nothing new for Pollard, who did so during his days in Memphis and in 2022 with the Dallas Cowboys, when he and Ezekiel Elliot split work.

“Just keeping the mindset of controlling what you can control and making the most of my opportunities, and just making them count,” Pollard said of sharing a backfield, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport.

“We haven’t really went into specifics (of what my role will be), but I’m coming in expecting to help, trying to contribute,” he added.

On top of having to deal with the expectations from the contract he signed, Pollard is also taking the spot of a franchise great in Derrick Henry. But the Memphis product has the right mindset on that front.

“For me personally, not at all,” Pollard responded when asked if he thinks about replacing Henry, according to AtoZ Sports Nashville. “All I’m focused on is coming in and being the best leader I can be this year, contributing to the team and just winning games.”

Signing with the Titans will be a homecoming for Pollard, who was born and raised in Tennessee. That’s one of the reasons why the 26-year-old back felt the Titans were the perfect fit for him.

“It just felt like this was the place for me to be, especially coming back home, with family so close,” Pollard said, according to Jim Wyatt. “It was just perfect timing. Everything worked out the way it should, me being from Memphis, born and raised in Memphis, went to the University of Memphis. So, I am very familiar with the area, have a lot of family here. It just made sense for me to be home.”