Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) celebrates the 42-36 overtime win over the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn.
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The Tennessee Titans don’t want to ride star running back Derrick Henry into the ground, but it’s hurting their chances to make the playoffs.
At 5-0, the Tennessee Titans were dreaming about the top seed in the AFC playoff picture.
Now, at 6-3? They’re simply hoping to remain in the picture at all.
Tennessee has dropped three of its last four, and now goes on a brutal road trip which includes dates with the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts each of the next two weekends. While it might be obvious to believe the Titans will lean heavily on their All-Pro running back in Derrick Henry, maybe not so fast.
On Wednesday, quarterback Ryan Tannehill told reporters the team was purposefully trying to limit Henry’s touches. This is clearly an attempt to keep him fresh both for the remainder of this season and also have him maintain his abilities through the four-year contract he signed with the club this offseason.
For comparisons sake, Tennessee gave Henry 175 touches through his first nine games in 2019. This year? Henry has 212 touches (201 carries and 11 receptions) to this point. Perhaps the Titans aren’t doing the job they believe they’re doing.
Still, if the Titans are going to make it into the playoffs for a second straight year, Henry is their engine. Last year, Henry won the rushing crown and was utterly dominant in their postseason wins, averaging better than 200 yards from scrimmage against the New England Patriots and Ravens. In the AFC Championship Game, he was shut down by the Kansas City Chiefs, held to 69 rushing yards. The Chiefs won, 35-24.