Over the last half-decade, we’ve had the pleasure of watching Derrick Henry plow through defenders without mercy and with no regrets. From Alabama to the Titans, the perennial All-Pro runner is a throwback, a genuine pleasure to watch play football for those of us who love hearing that ever-satisfying pop of the pads.
That’s why when the 28-year-old Henry went on injured reserve with a broken foot earlier this season, all you could do was weep at the stiff arms and truck-stick runs we’d miss. It wasn’t quite a tragedy along the lines of “… as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced,” but the heartbreak was still palpable.
One of the best football players alive was on the shelf for a little while, and, in turn, we were all robbed of seeing his brilliance. How could you not be romantic about football?
The good news is that the Titans, the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, have cleared their bell-cow/talisman for full contact. The news comes just about a day ahead of Tennessee’s AFC Divisional battle with the Bengals. It’s a welcome development for not only the Titans, who aren’t the same without their best player but Henry himself.
Looks like @KingHenry_2 is feeling it …@Titans pic.twitter.com/cOZyVOJEh5
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) January 20, 2022
Those moves aren’t awful for a 240-pound hulk of a man who broke his foot only two months ago. Go, Derrick; Go, Derrick; Go, Derrick.
To intentionally belabor the point: Henry’s return means everything to his team. Bettors with Tipico currently have Tennessee as only a -3.5 favorite over Cincinnati. The Titans also only have the third-best odds (+300) to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl (behind the Bills at +230 and Chiefs at +185). For a No. 1 seed with the only playoff bye week in the conference, you’d hope for better odds and more confidence.
But if the Titans can get even a fraction of Henry’s usual dominant self in his first game back (please note the apparent limp in the above video), then all bets are actually on. That seems also to be bettors’ expectations. Henry has an an Over/Under of 22.5 for carries and an Over/Under of 80.5 rushing yards. Talk about a hefty workload for someone whose foot is still definitely healing.
If we do indeed see “King” Henry, with a limp and in a playoff game, still bowling over professional defenders, then let’s make it clear (NSFW: language) he put the team on his back … though.
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