How Tennessee Titans' Derrick Henry feels about his workload entering 2022
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry said he’ll embrace whatever it takes to win when asked if he still wanted to be a volume rusher.
The 28-year-old Henry led the NFL in carries in 2019 and 2020. He was on pace to do so again last season before suffering a Jones fracture, but still posted a staggering 219 rushes in eight games.
Coming off the foot injury, there have been questions about what Henry’s workload could look like moving forward.
“Whatever it takes to win," Henry said of expectations for his workload. "My mindset has always been the same. If it’s going to be that type of game (with a lot of carries), it’s that type of game. Then go from there.”
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The two-time Pro Bowler added that he likes the group of running backs behind him this year. It includes Dontrell Hilliard, Jordan Wilkins, special teams ace Trenton Cannon, fourth-round rookie Hassan Haskins, undrafted rookie Julius Chestnut and fullback Tory Carter.
No longer in the picture is D'Onta Foreman, Tennessee's second leading rusher last season who joined the Panthers in free agency.
"I feel like our group is solid,” Henry said. “I feel like the rookies can hold their own. They come out here and practice every day. They run hard. In the film room, they pay attention and take notes. So they’ve been doing a good job.”
“You see them out here running making some big runs,” he continued on the overall group. “They’re running hard with their pads. They finish runs. I’m excited to watch them play. Every day, we watch them on film and see how much better they’re getting each and every day with their runs and pass protection and catching passes out of the backfield.”
Coach Mike Vrabel said last week that he didn’t anticipate Henry suiting up in preseason games, which begins for the Titans on Thursday at Baltimore.
The star running back said that wouldn’t change much about his routine over the next few weeks.
“Come out here and practice,” Henry said. “When the travel comes, get some work (and) watch some film and watch them play.”
Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at barthur@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What Tennessee Titans' Derrick Henry expects of his workload in 2022
