Tony Pollard Report Suggests Cowboys Dodged A Bullet

Running back Tony Pollard spent five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys from 2019-2023, and just as he began to burst onto the scene as a potential feature back, he was off to another team.

Pollard, for years, had shown pops of electrifying potential in Dallas. However, in the beginning of his career he was still stuck in the shadows of the former NFL rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott.

After a surprising 2022 season that earned him a greater role, the 2023 season saw Pollard officially take the reins. He was put on the franchise tag and was expected to display his exciting potential with a major increase in starts and carries.

But things didn't quite feel right.

The former fourth-round pick of Dallas rushed for just over 1,000 yards but only at 4.0 yards per carry, playing in every game in the process. That left the Cowboys with a tough decision on Pollard and his ensuing free agency.

Pollard would eventually walk, signing with the Tennessee Titans on a three-year, $21.7 million contract to be their next starting ball carrier.

Last season was a slight uptick in production (1,079 yards, five touchdowns), but one concern still lingered: is Tony Pollard fit to be a reliable No. 1 option, or is he best suited as a complementary piece?

A recent report from the Titans' team website points to the Tennessee head coach Brian Callahan grappling with this issue. The team is reportedly considering a "division of labor" by splitting carries throughout this season to prioritize health.

Which, we gather, is just a fancier way of saying "running back-by-committee".

"But I think in a perfect world, it's a healthier division of labor. I think [Pollard] ended up carrying the ball a lot. He was our most productive running back. And then Tyjae [Spears] had some injuries early, too," Callahan said.

"I think we can do a better job of managing that load so they both play a little more evenly and allows us to maybe have a spot for a third back ... So hopefully that division of labor gets a little more evenly distributed so he doesn't have to take the brunt of it."

Pollard, 28, dealt with an ankle injury that slowed his production late last season, but this idea of split carries could still imply that there is worry about Pollard's true RB1 capabilities in addition to his health concerns.

Dallas eventually turned to Rico Dowdle last year, but he didn't breakout until the midway point of the season en route to eclipsing 1,000 yards. Then he, too, left in free agency.

The Cowboys run game has not gotten any better since Pollard left, but you can argue things could have gone worse. Re-signing Pollard to a long-term deal but being forced to move to a split-carries approach to maximize his health would be looked at as a waste.

Dallas' revamped backfield ahead of 2025 is by no means any upgrade yet, but the organization may have dodged a bullet by moving on from Pollard and not being stuck trying to figure out if he is a lead back.