Rich Barnes/USA Today Sports
Titans Raid Vikings Practice Squad for Next No. 3 Back
NASHVILLE – It has become the Tennessee Titans’ version of Where’s Waldo?
Wednesday, their search for a third running back/fullback led them to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad.
There they found Khari Blasingame, a 6-foot, 233-pound undrafted rookie out of nearby Vanderbilt. Tennessee signed Blasingame to its active roster to fill the spot created when Rod Smith was waived a day earlier.
The move creates the possibility for him to make his NFL debut as soon as the Titans’ next game, Nov. 24 against Jacksonville. Blasingame spent the offseason and training camp with Minnesota and was added to the practice squad at the start of the regular season. He carried eight times for 20 yards and one touchdown and caught eight passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns in the preseason.
Blasingame began his college career as a linebacker but switched to running back as a sophomore. His primary role was as a short-yardage specialist or a change-of-pace option behind the Commodores’ all-time leading rusher, Ralph Webb, for two years (2016-17) and then Ke’Shawn Vaughn (2018).
He rushed for 997 yards and 15 touchdowns in three seasons at that position, including 10 rushing touchdowns in 2016. He also caught 35 passes for 380 yards and a touchdown. His best season was 2018, when he amassed 721 total yards (401 rushing, 320 receiving) and averaged 6.0 yards per play.
Smith spent five weeks with the Titans and appeared in three games, exclusively on special teams. His addition was aimed to offset the loss of David Fluellen, who was placed on injured reserve.
After last season, coaches asked Fluellen, the third-string running back each of the past two years, to add weight (he went from 225 to 240) so that he could assume some fullback duties. He appeared in two of the first four games, including four snaps with the offense in the opener, before offseason injury issues caught up with him. He was placed on IR on Oct. 4, the day left tackle Taylor Lewan was added to the active roster following a four-game suspension.
Tight end MyCole Pruitt has seen the most action at fullback this season.
Tennessee (5-5) has a bye this Sunday.
