With the signing of star running back Derrick Henry, the Baltimore Ravens have significantly enhanced their running back room and appear to be headed for their best offensive season in recent memory. Henry turned thirty years old in January of last year, which raises some red flags, but the productive player and the organization that signed him this past off-season don’t seem to be concerned about it.
Given that they endure the worst wear and tear of any player on the field, running backs have an unusual lifespan in terms of how long a player can maintain a consistent level of output. However, Henry feels that it is a stigma for people to think that a running back’s career is over once he or she becomes 30, a belief that the former Tennessee Titan hopes to disprove, as reported by ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
Henry stated, That’s always going to be said when a running back gets older, the stigma on the position. However, I just concentrate on staying well and working when I’m here, letting my performance speak for itself.
The age factor has taken a severe toll on some outstanding players at the position. Only three players in this decade who are 30 years of age or older have run for 1,000 yards or more, Adrian Peterson, Frank Gore, and Raheem Mostert, who is presently with the Miami Dolphins. Henry, who had 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns in the previous season, inked a two-year, $16 million contract with Baltimore.
Henry responded, Hell yeah, but the pads will be on pretty soon, when asked if he was ready for full contact to be initiated following a rainy Monday session. This clearly indicates that Henry is prepared for practice with pads to begin rather soon. Despite having a good season as evidenced by his prior stats, Henry did had his lowest rushing yards per game and yards per carry since 2018, which may indicate that the enormous workload may eventually catch up to him. Nevertheless, Henry stated he is not attempting to worry about that.
I’m feeling well. Henry remarked, I don’t really try to worry about that. It’s somewhat humorous. I have occasionally received 56 carries in a game since high school, and 57 the following week. It was 44, 46 in college. It was 30, 35 in the NFL. It really just comes down to your mentality, how you look after your physical needs, and your ability to avoid getting too caught up in “he said, she said. Just keep working and doing what you’re doing if it works and you feel good about it.
Henry was without a doubt the workhorse and bell cow for the Titans, as evidenced by the fact that the running back led the NFL in carries four times; the only other player to do so more than that was the legendary Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns, who did it six times. Nevertheless, Henry joins a Ravens club that typically features a rotating cast of running backs, which includes Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell this season.
Henry might have a fantastic season without having to lead the league in carries, especially considering that Lamar Jackson, the quarterback, can account for a large portion of the rushing attack. The Ravens feel that Henry can be the man who finally gets them over the hump, as they have been so close to their ultimate goals time and time again. Henry told Sports Illustrated that the organization has been everything that I imagined thus far.
Henry remarked, I don’t want to get too attached to any possibilities, but it’s everything that I imagined. The work we do here, the Ravens’ culture, and their brotherhood. I’m appreciative to be here. I’m thrilled to get the chance. In training camp, we’re working hard to ensure the outcomes we want, but we’re not exploring any options or making any assumptions. When it comes time to suit up and head out to catch some “dubs, we just put in the work now and let everything fall into place.
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