Tyjae Spears Expected to Play Through Ankle Injury Against Ravens

The Tennessee Titans are getting some much-needed backfield reinforcement today, though it might come with a slight limp. According to Ian Rapoport, running back Tyjae Spears is expected to play through an ankle injury that had him listed as questionable all week.

Suiting up is one thing, but actually being effective on a bad wheel is another entirely. Spears is going to test that ankle against the Baltimore Ravens, which is roughly the equivalent of testing a patched tire by driving it over a bed of nails.

"Ian Rapoport reported that Spears is expected to play today."

Tennessee desperately needs any offensive spark they can find right now. This is a unit that just managed a grand total of seven points in an ugly 12-7 loss to the New York Giants last week.

When your offense is getting outscored by a couple of field goals, you do not have the luxury of resting your playmakers. Spears brings a dynamic element to the backfield that the Titans simply cannot replace with the next guy up on the depth chart.

For the fantasy managers and prop bettors trying to read the tea leaves, this is the classic Sunday morning trap. A player being active does not guarantee a full workload, and one awkward tackle could send him right back to the blue medical tent.

The smart move is to watch how Tennessee uses him on their opening drive. If Spears is making hard cuts and taking the early down work, the ankle is fine. If he is just standing on the sideline with his helmet strapped on for moral support, you will know exactly how that pregame warmup actually went.