Brian Callahan explains how the Titans plan to deploy Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears in 2024

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan took the podium as the team officially reported to training camp on Tuesday. Callahan set the table for what is to come as camp gets underway, including how he envisions the Titans backfield shaking out.

Tyjae Spears impressed in his rookie season while playing in Derrick Henry's shadow. The third-round pick out of Tulane posted 453 rushing yards and two scores on top of 52 catches for 385 receiving yards and one score. His explosiveness was often on display and was reflected in his 5.5 yards per touch.

Although Spears has a promising future ahead, Tennessee inked former Cowboys running back Tony Pollard to a three-year deal worth $21.75 million as the team's first move in free agency. Pollard has eclipsed 1,000 yards on the ground in back-to-back seasons and brings a similar skillset to Spears.

Callahan was asked which running back will be the starter, but his answer revealed that the two backs are both going to see a healthy snap share in 2024.

“The fun part for me is: How are we going to deploy those guys?,” Callahan told reporters. “Maybe they both play at the same time, maybe one gets hot and you let him run, maybe we just rotate back and forth. I don’t know what that’s going to look like yet. But they are both going to play quite a bit of football for us, and I don’t view either one of them as a starter or a backup. They are both starting players to me.”

Much like how the Titans view wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley, the Pollard and Spears tandem will likely be as 1a and 1b in the running back room where each player sees a steady diet of carries and the lead back will be the player with the hot hand. No matter which running back receives the starter tag, the Titans will have two dynamic options that can make an impact running the ball as well as catching the ball out of the backfield.

Not having a clear-cut starter at the running back position is foreign to Titans fans. With that being said, it's a modern approach to the position, as running backs are now required to help out in the passing game much more than in years past. Callahan's creativity should allow both players to be on the field together in 2024, creating a layer of unpredictability the offense has lacked in the past.

Though neither Spears nor Pollard will hover around the league leaders in rushing yards, the duo has a chance to flirt with 2,000 combined rushing and receiving yards if each player stays healthy. The way the team uses its running backs will look much different than what fans have grown accustomed to, but the position has evolved and the Titans are adapting.