Former Tennessee running back Jabari Small is poised to make his NFL debut on Sunday just three games into his professional career. Small is on the Tennessee Titans practice squad and the franchise activated him alongside linebacker Luke Gifford on Saturday ahead of its week three matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
RB Jabari Small and LB Luke Gifford will be gameday elevations for the @Titans for Sunday’s game vs the @packers.
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) September 21, 2024
Titans’ running back Tyjae Spears is questionable for the matchup against the Packers and Tennessee activating Small makes it appear like Spears will be unable to go. If that’s the case, Small will be the Titans second running back behind Tony Pollard.
Small signed with the Titans as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. The Memphis native performed well enough in training camp and preseason games to make the Titans practice squad. Now he gets a chance in the regular season in just the third week of the season.
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The 5-foot-9, 198-pound running back was a key cog in Josh Heupel’s offense where he totaled 2,001 yards and 24 touchdowns during his final three seasons in Knoxville. Small’s junior season was his best, rushing for 736 yards and 13 touchdowns during Tennessee’s 11-2 resurgent season.
Small still had one season of college eligibility remaining thanks to the NCAA’s COVID-19 eligibility relief, but he decided to begin his professional career instead.
The former Briarcrest Christian School standout’s football career has been in the state of Tennessee. Small played prep football in west Tennessee, college football in east Tennessee and now professional football in middle Tennessee.
Kickoff between the Titans and Packers is at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon. FOX is broadcasting the game.
