Derrick Henry Has Impressive Answer For Concerns About The Wear From So Many Carries

The Baltimore Ravens' wisdom in adding running back Derrick Henry as a free agent is easy to understand and hard to question except for one thing: Wear.

No, not as in the purple suit with black shirt and tie Henry wore at his introductory press conference on Thursday.

But as in the 1,920 crushing, violent rushing attempts Henry has subjected his body to since 2017. That number is the highest in the NFL since that time. He's led the NFL in rushing attempts in four of the last five years and has gone well over 300 careers in a season three times.

It is admittedly a lot of wear. And it is piled atop the 602 attempts Henry collected at the University of Alabama.

So, Henry has 2,632 attempts in anger at the major college and NFL levels since 2013. 

Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans is tackled by the face mask by Roy Robertson-Harris of the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Houston, Texas. The Titans defeated the Jaguars 28-20.  (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Henry Answers The Doubters

And the fact he's now 30 years old, which is a milestone but sometimes also a millstone for running backs, begs the question whether Henry can maintain the pace. Whether he can carry the load for the Ravens as he did for the Titans and Crimson Tide?

So what's Henry's answer to the doubters?

"Tell ‘em to keep watching," he said. "People are always going to have something to say, they’re all going to have opinions. I'm just here ready to work, ready to get things started and do my best to help this organization."

That's a solid answer. But there needs to be a reason for the bravado.

And Henry apparently has that.

It has something to do with him putting himself through unimaginable workouts to be the beast he is.

Henry Works Above And Below The Neck

"Really, I think it's about taking care of your body," Henry said. "Doing the things you need to do. Getting your body prepared year in and year out, week in and week out, and every single day making sure you feel your best to be able to perform at your best. [It's] creating good habits with eating healthy."

Oh, wow. Give me a second to put down this double cheeseburger.

Anyway, it should be noted the work Henry does on behalf of his body also happens above the neck. He thinks about this stuff. 

"…As you get into the league, do more research on guys who played a long time," Henry said. "Be a sponge to guys at the running back position or anywhere else and see what they've done and try to implement it into your life as well. And that's what I try to do. I feel great. I'm blessed to be going into Year 9 and getting this opportunity. So I'm going to take advantage of it and do the best I can." 

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was asked how many 5-year-olds it would take to tackle Derrick Henry and he said "a sh*t-ton." (Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images)

Henry Physical And Respected

The Ravens have admired Henry for a long time. In 2019, the Titans were the No. 6 seed and upset the top-seeded Ravens in the playoffs. Henry ran for 195 yards and averaged 6.5 yard per carry that game. He also threw a 3-yard touchdown pass. 

"We played that game and it was just a gut-wrenching performance," Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said. "I think we all kind of realize that. I was at the Senior Bowl and I left and met our coaching staff, our team and a lot of players at the Pro Bowl. And I had a chance as a general manager to just observe. 

"I saw Derrick that week. And I watched him. And I watched how other players related to him. I watched and saw this humility. This is a guy who ran for I don't know how many yards that season and all the players kind of gravitated toward him that week, and it was a tremendous respect."

DeCosta said that "resonated with me."

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, left, and General Manager and Executive Vice President Eric DeCosta are tired of questions about Lamar Jackson. (Kevin Richardson/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Ravens Wanted Henry Last Season

That's one reason the Ravens have valued Henry. That's why they tried to acquire Henry last year at the trade deadline.

"It didn't work out, it was disappointing," DeCosta said. "But, again, when you evaluate the tape, you watch the player, you see the history of the player and talk to people who have been around the player, it made all the sense in the world for us to target Derrick."

So everyone is on record now. The Ravens trust Henry and aren't worried about wear and tear. That's good because he has no intentions of changing how he runs. Or how often. 

It's kind of a marriage made in the trenches, this physical team and physical runner.

"This was a no-brainer for me," Henry said. "I love the [Ravens] style, the physicality they play with, in all three phases. I felt like it fits my style of play as well."