The Titans somewhat surprisingly didn't do a lot to upgrade the backfield in the offseason—it appears the team will open the season with the same Tony Pollard/Tyjae Spears combo as a year ago.

Pollard is a steady vet who has topped 1,000 rushing yards in four straight seasons, but he's not an especially explosive runner. Spears is a dangerous receiver out of the backfield, but he has had all kinds of trouble staying on the field.

If Singleton can impress in camp, he could push Spears for passing-down work. If Spears gets hurt again, Singleton won't even have to push.

For a Titans team looking to build offensive depth and a future bell cow at running back, that would be a welcome development.

Opportunity Could Be Knocking

Tony Pollard remains Tennessee's unquestioned starter after another productive season, but the NFL has become increasingly reliant on multiple running backs. His running mate, Tyjae Spears, has been unreliable due to injuries over the last two seasons. That opens the door for Singleton to carve out an immediate role in the offense.

Whether it's spelling Pollard on early downs or earning touches in passing down situations, the rookie has several paths to meaningful playing time. Strong training camp performances often accelerate opportunities for young backs, especially those who prove they can contribute in multiple phases of the game.

Singleton offers an explosive home-run ability that Pollard doesn't have, and Spears has had three seasons of flashing potential without the consistency. Don't be surprised if Singleton makes the backup running back position a training camp battle when it begins at the end of the month.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans rookie running back earns surprise breakout prediction