Team news: Tennessee Titans | Page 11

"Ryan will be the starting quarterback on Monday," Vrabel revealed at a news conference following Friday's second and third rounds. "Malik will be the backup. Will will be the third quarterback. And what I've told them is whatever happens after that will be up to the players. That's what it's always been here. That's what we always want it to be."

Related Players: Will Levis, Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis

As far as finding an option for 2023, this entire situation is going to be a stay-away. You would imagine that Levis will finish the summer higher on the depth chart than Willis, but we can't be certain at this time.

Vrabel would go on to say, "That's our job is to bring in competition at every position," Vrabel said. "It's not a secret. I hope that by now that everybody understands that we have to prove our value to this football team each and every day."

Maybe we will see a trade for any of this guys, but a lot of the situations around the league are already locked in.

Titans GM Ran Carthon told reporters that he has not received calls about trading star RB Derrick Henry.

Related Players: Hassan Haskins, Julius Chestnut

Even with the team looking at a tough season ahead, they will likely need to address their running back room with or without Derrick Henry. Henry could be high on the list of big moves later this week during the NFL Draft.

Per a source close to the situation, the Cowboys are set to part ways with the two-time NFL rushing champ, and the running back is preparing to start fresh with a new team.

Related Players: Tony Pollard

Elliot has clearly been playing with less in the tank over the last few seasons, but rumblings around Dallas had been that he wasn't going anywhere. Then they franchise-tagged Tony Pollard for $10.1M, and the rumors began to swirl. The Cowboys will undoubtedly add to the backfield, but for now, Pollard is the de facto RB1 and finally get the chance to prove if he is a top-15 back in fantasy.

Cowboys now have placed their franchise tag on RB Tony Pollard, per source. RB franchise tag is $10.09 million.

In 16 games, Pollard finished as the fantasy RB7 and had the ninth-highest per game average, all while playing in a timeshare with Ezekiel Elliott. Per PFF, he had the fourth-highest run grade and the ninth-highest receiving grade among running backs. Per Pro Football Reference, he led the league in yards after contact per attempt (2.6) and was 15th among running backs in rush attempts per broken tackle (17.5). In other words, he's really, really good. Early ADP has him going off the board as the RB13 in the early fourth round. Considering his age and 2022 finish, and the possibility that the Cowboys part ways with Ezekiel Elliott, he looks like a good value in the so-called "RB dead zone."

Cowboys RB Tony Pollard (thigh) will be inactive tonight against the Titans.

Related Players: Ezekiel Elliott, Malik Davis

NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo has called this a breakout game for Malik Davis, who the team is high on. Whether or not this hyperbole could be debated, but the Titans are sitting a ton of starters, so there could be something to his statement. Elliot is a locked-in RB2, regardless.

Tony Pollard is going to really have to show the Cowboys he can go tonight in his pregame workout. If not, they’ll exercise caution and sit him. Malik Davis would then see an increased role behind Ezekiel Elliott.

It's hard to say exactly what kind of a role Malik Davis would have tonight, but the Cowboys are 12.5-point favorites, so you have to wonder how long they'll keep Zeke in the game if that game script plays out. If Pollard sits, Elliot should be a confident RB2, but you would have to be in a desperate mode to play Davis in your Flex during Championship Week.

Titans RB Derrick Henry is DOUBTFUL to play Thursday against the Cowboys.

Related players: Hassan Haskins, Julius Chestnut, Trenton Cannon

It's actually a pretty meaningless game for both teams, so resting Henry does make some sense - unless you own him and you're in your fantasy league finals, of course. For the Titans, a loss on Thursday night still sets up a divisional showdown in Week 18 against the Jags. So it would appear Tennessee is possibly saving Henry for that game. Haskins should be in store for a big workload if Henry is out on Thursday night, so those in need of a replacement should probably act now.

Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said S Derwin James Jr. (quad) could return to practice at some point this week. RB Austin Ekeler (shoulder) had tests done, Staley said, that were negative.

Related Players: Joshua Kelley

Joshua Kelley was the only other running back to receive a carry in Austin Ekeler's absence but it was short-lived as Ekeler not only returned but scored a touchdown and ended up with a decent 70 yards from scrimmage. Unless he misses the week of practices, Ekeler has to be started everywhere in Week 16.