The Tennessee Titans drafted a running back in Tyjae Spears in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft in what was quite the controversial pick.
The controversy doesn’t have as much to do with the player himself as it does the Titans’ decision to avoid a major position of need in wide receiver in favor of taking a player at a position that was very far down the list.
As if that wasn’t enough to dislike this pick, we learned of troubling medicals pertaining to Spears’ knee, which has suffered a pair of torn ACLs, doesn’t have an actual ACL, and has arthritis, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
While the Titans might be “comfortable” with him physically, it’s safe to say many of us are not.
When you get past all of that, Spears is a talented player who should make an impact right away. And, it’s clear the Titans are planning for life after Derrick Henry with this pick, a life that figures to begin next season at the latest.
The day after being drafted on Friday, Spears sat down with the media over Zoom on Saturday and touched on a number of topics, including the situation with his knee and the fact that he wore Henry’s No. 22 in college.
On his knee (and reaching out to Frank Gore)
“I’ve actually reached out to Frank Gore. I’m going to ask him for some pointers and tips on how to stay healthy. I do a good job of it because I take pride in everything that I do, that I do greatness-wise. Off the field stuff is
going to keep me on the field.”
On if there's any extra maintenance needed on his knee
“You have to understand that whenever you get surgery on something you’re going to have to work that area out anyway. It’s not nothing out of the ordinary for a regular person, I mean, from what a regular player does.
Football is a very physical game, so I’m not doing nothing out of the way. I’m doing the same thing these other guys are doing, just taking care of my body.”
On carrying the ball 229 times in 2022
“I knew my significance on the team. I knew my role on the team, so I had to do it. It starts with mindset first, just understanding my significance on the team, just day in. I work hard. I work hard to put myself in positions like that.”
On being on a team with Derrick Henry
“It’s amazing. My key word is going to be amazing, man. It’s all about opportunity because at the end of the day it’s not about Derrick Henry. I guess he is a great guy. He’s a great player, but I’m trying to fulfill my
opportunity while I got it.”
On trying to get his college number from Henry
“I was playing with somebody over there. I was like maybe he will let me get it, but they was like naw, that ain’t going to happen. Hopefully he will want to go back to number 2 like he had at Alabama.”
On catching passes
“I see any way in which I can put myself in a position to make plays when it is coming out of the backfield like I’m doing. I’m very versatile and I got some great hands, too.”
On pre-draft meetings with Titans
“I interacted with them at the Senior Bowl. You know Charles London. Charles, he came on as the OC with the American team, my team at the Senior Bowl, so had a great impression of him. I saw him, interacted with him at my pro day. I just did a 30-visit with him last week. So, yeah, I had a good amount of interaction and every time I interacted with them it went well.”
On overcoming adversity
“Where I come from, I try, because I’m not trying to go back to where I come from. Everybody is going to face a lot of adversity, no matter what you’re going through, what your facing, just how you’re going to respond to it. I
always try to respond the best way I know how, just keep working. Like a rainy day, the sun comes soon.”
