Tyjae Spears
#2 RB,
Titans
ACTUAL 2022
- FPTS
RANK: -
2023 SEASON
68 FPTS
RANK: 74
AGE
21 yrs
HEIGHT/WEIGHT
5'11'' / 195 lbs
COLLEGE
Tulane
| SEASON | GP | FPTS | RANK | RUATT | RUYD | RUTD | RUAVE | RECPT | REYD | RETD |
| 2023 | 15 | 68 | 74th | 72 | 307 | 2 | 4.3 | 15 | 111 | undefined |
Works efficiently again
Published: 2023-09-18
Spears rushed the ball eight times for 49 yards in Sunday's 27-24 overtime win over the Chargers. He added two receptions on two targets for six yards.
Spears saw his relative role in the Titans' offense shrink as compared to Week 1, as he managed 10 total touches to Derrick Henry's 28. He showed some explosiveness with his opportunity by tallying long gains of 14 and 11 yards. While clearly the second back on the depth chart, Spears has a role in the offense and should see high single-digit touches on a weekly basis.
Weekly Stats 2022
Stats not availablePerformance Splits 2020 to 2022
Stats not availableCareer Stats
Stats not availableGets in full practice Thursday
Published: 2023-09-14
Spears (groin) was upgraded to a full participant in Thursday's practice, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.
Spears was limited Wednesday, but it sounds like a non-issue for the rookie headed into Week 2 against the Chargers. He played 54 percent of the Week 1 snaps versus New Orleans, totaling just 28 yards on four touches while catching only one of his four targets.
Limited at practice Wednesday
Published: 2023-09-13
Spears (groin) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday ahead of Sunday's game versus the Chargers, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
The exact nature of the injury he's dealing with isn't known, so it will be worth keeping an eye on Tennessee's Thursday and Friday injury reports for more clarity. If he misses time, Julius Chestnut will be in line to back up Derrick Henry.
Sees four targets
Published: 2023-09-11
Spears carried the ball three times for 27 yards in Sunday's 16-15 loss to the Saints. He added one reception on four targets for one yard.
Spears was shockingly on the field more than Derrick Henry, as he played on 54 percent of offensive snaps as opposed to Henry's 46 percent clip. Their respective workload did not follow suit, though Spears' involvement in the passing game was noteworthy. The Titans have talked up the rookie's potential since minicamp and it's clear they'll utilize him in a significant way as a complement to Henry.
Works ahead of other backs again
Published: 2023-08-25
Spears had nine carries for 28 yards and caught two of three targets for 13 yards in Friday's preseason game against New England.
Spears got the start and took three carries for three yards on the opening drive while Ryan Tannehill was at quarterback. The rookie then stayed on to play four drives with Malik Willis, getting the first six carries of the game for Tennessee before Julius Chestnut and Jacques Patrick started mixing in. Spears threw a vicious stiff-arm on one of his runs and further cemented his status as the No. 2 back behind only Derrick Henry heading into his NFL regular-season debut Week 1 at New Orleans.
Showcases explosiveness
Published: 2023-08-19
Spears rushed the ball seven times for 57 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 24-16 preseason over the Vikings.
Spears was the first back on the field and played three offensive possessions with Derrick Henry sitting out. He ended his appearance in style by ripping off a 33-yard touchdown, during which he hurdled a defender near the line of scrimmage before showcasing breakaway speed to find the corner of the end zone. Spears will enter the season as the backup to Derrick Henry but should offer big-play ability as a change-of-pace back.
Good showing in preseason debut
Published: 2023-08-12
Spears ran for 32 yards on six carries in Tennessee's preseason game against Chicago on Saturday.
The third-round pick out of Tulane started for the Titans, adding a four-yard reception on one target in addition to the solid rushing output. Spears might have volume limitations at around 200 pounds and with a concerning knee injury history, but his ability with the football is beyond questioning. Fellow backup prospect Julius Chestnut also did well for himself (seven carries for 46 yards), but given Spears' better pedigree he remains the favorite to back up Derrick Henry in 2023.
Continues to impress
Published: 2023-06-07
Spears, who has regularly been "one of the most active players" this offseason, stood out once again during Tuesday's minicamp practice, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Though the 2023 third-round selection is clearly behind undisputed top back Derrick Henry in the pecking order, the rookie has a chance to secure a key complementary role this coming season. Along with Spears, 2022 fourth-round pick Hassan Haskins is also in the mix for work behind Henry, though offensive coordinator Tim Kelly told Wyatt that the team plans "to give [Spears] as much as he can handle." With that in mind, it will be worth monitoring how the competition between Spears and Haskins plays out this summer, with the player who emerges as Henry's top backup becoming an intriguing insurance policy behind Tennessee's high-volume lead back.
Joins Tennessee's backfield
Published: 2023-04-28
The Titans selected Spears in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 81st overall.
Spears put himself on the map with an incredible 2022 season highlighted by 1,581 yards and 19 touchdowns on 229 carries. He continued to build momentum with an impressive showing at the Senior Bowl. Things halted a bit when he checked in light at the combine at 5-foot-9 and 201 pounds, and he ran just a 4.52 in the 40 at the Tulane Pro Day. Derrick Henry will continue to be the workhorse as long as he's in Tennessee, and Spears didn't show the pass-catching ability at Tulane to be a lock to force his way into a third-down role, either. Spears can work his way onto the fantasy radar in time, but his rookie-year prospects are less than ideal.