Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry exited last week’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts because he was being evaluated for a concussion. Henry cleared protocol, but he did not return to the game.
When speaking to the media this week, Henry said he was disappointed that he was not able to get back on the field in Week 13, but he understands the process.
“I felt fine — just took a helmet-to-helmet hit and they saw enough where I couldn’t go back in. I wanted to go back in — it was hard to watch — but I have to respect their decision,” Henry said, via Jim Wyatt of the Titans’ official team website. “I can’t fight it — it’s their decision, it’s their call. It sucks, but you have to respect it. I wanted to go out there and continue to play and help us win, but they felt different. … I think the league is trying to be cautious with head injuries, which I respect. It’s all about player safety.”
Henry certainly seems healthy enough to play now, so he will almost surely make his return to the gridiron when the Titans head on the road to battle the Miami Dolphins next Monday.
The 29-year-old carried the ball 21 times for 102 yards and a couple of touchdowns against the Colts before exiting.
On the season overall, Henry has rushed for 841 yards and eight scores while averaging 4.3 yards per carry. He has also logged 22 catches for 185 yards.
Henry, who played his collegiate football at the University of Alabama, was selected by Tennessee in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
It took him three years to really break out, when he registered 1,059 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2018. Then, in 2019 and 2020, Henry led the league in both rushing yards and rushing scores in back-to-back seasons, topping out at 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns in the latter campaign.
Derrick Henry may no longer be the same halfback he was several years ago, but he remains one of the more feared offensive threats in football.
The Titans are 4-8 this season.
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