Tennessee Titans

Tennessee Titans release running back Bishop Sankey

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Tennessee Titans have cut running back Bishop Sankey, their 2014 second-round pick. Sankey was the first running back selected in his draft class.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Tennessee Titans have released running back Bishop Sankey. Sankey was the No. 54 pick of the Titans back in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Sankey had a great college career at the University of Washington, but failed to live up to expectations as the first tailback taken in the 2014 NFL Draft. The Titans’ second-rounder went ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals’ Jeremy Hill, the Atlanta Falcons’ Devonta Freeman, and the San Francisco 49ers’ Carlos Hyde in 2014, as Newsday Sports’ Nick Klopsis pointed out.

Was first RB drafted in 2014 (54th overall), ahead of Jeremy Hill, Carlos Hyde and Devonta Freeman. https://t.co/3z8fkTZFHU

— Nick Klopsis (@NickKlopsis) September 2, 2016

Hill, Hyde, and Freeman are all primary tailbacks for their respective teams. Sankey had been usurped on the Tennessee running back depth chart by veteran DeMarco Murray and rookie Derrick Henry. Murray was a former All-Pro with the Dallas Cowboys. Henry won the 2015 Heisman Trophy for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

In two years with the Titans, Sankey rushed for a combined 762 yards on 199 carries in 29 games. Sankey averaged only 26.3 yards per game and had just four touchdowns in two seasons with the Titans.

Tennessee has two strong offensive minded coaches in head coach Mike Mularkey and offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie. The duo are planning to use the run to open up the pass for second-year quarterback Marcus Mariota. Murray and Henry have been able to handle heavy workloads in the backfield.

Choosing to cut Sankey before his third season signifies that the old regime in the Titans front office didn’t know what it was doing. Sankey is young and could sign elsewhere this season. For now, Tennessee going ahead with Murray and Henry as its featured running backs.