Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans. (Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports)
The Tennessee Titans will not get star running back Derrick Henry back before the playoffs.
This weekend is set to be a huge one for the Tennessee Titans. If they are to defeat the Houston Texans on Sunday, they can officially clinch the top seed in the AFC and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. But, they will not have a huge piece of their offense back just yet.
On Saturday, the Titans announced that star running back Derrick Henry is ineligible to play for their Week 18 contest against the Texans. Henry was designated to return from the injured reserve this past Wednesday.
Titans: Derrick Henry won’t return before the playoffs
Even though Henry was not activated for the regular-season finale, it is not all doom and gloom for the Titans. ESPN’s Turron Davenport reports that the Titans still expect Henry to return for the playoffs. If they were to clinch the top seed in the conference, that would give them the bye and an extra week for Henry to get to 100-percent for the Divisional Round.
Henry has been out since Week 8 of the season after suffering a Jones fracture in his foot. That was supposed to take a huge hit to Tennessee’s playoff chances. Yet, they went 5-3 since Henry was sidelined, and are on the verge of clinching home field advantage for the playoffs.
Prior to the injury, Henry ran for 937 yards and 10 touchdowns on 219 carries in eight games, while catching 18-of-20 targets for 154 yards.
Henry may not be in uniform for the regular-season finale, but he is on the road to making his return for the postseason.