Derrick Henry and his stiff arm are coming again! Get away the ice packs

Yet one more win for the Tennessee Titans. All they want is to win yet one more sport they usually can clinch the No. 1 general seed within the AFC. With an 11-5 report, a low mark for a crew in first place however that speaks to an absence of a transparent finest crew within the AFC, a house victory in opposition to the 4-12 Houston Texans — who’ve received two of their final three video games — to finish the season assures the Titans of home-area benefit and a first-spherical bye.

Accidents have been a difficulty for the Titans all season, however their roster has been getting stronger, they usually could possibly be as wholesome as they’ve been all yr come playoff time. A.J. Brown is again as Ryan Tannehill’s high go catching goal, Julio Jones is wholesome and off of the COVID listing, the complete beginning offensive line is wholesome, and the protection has bounced again from early-season accidents to be a top-10 unit per Soccer Outsiders. Additionally, it seems that there’s yet one more participant the Titans may have again for the playoffs who might tilt the steadiness of energy within the AFC: Derrick Henry.

The most effective working again within the NFL has not performed because the Titans’ Week 8 victory in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts, wherein he limped off of the sphere however returned to complete that sport. After the sport, it was found that Henry had a Jones fracture (a fracture of the pinky toe aspect of the foot) in his proper foot that may require surgical procedure. He was out indefinitely.

It’s possible that Henry might be accessible for the Titans within the playoffs. They designated him for return from IR immediately, and if he seems to be good in follow, he might even play in opposition to the Texans on Sunday. He has a 21-day window, beginning immediately, to follow to get again onto the sphere. That’s not technically a assure that he’ll return to the sphere this season, however judging from the Titans’ social media, they seem like assured that Okaying Henry is able to play.

If Henry feels good, he’ll in fact wish to play on Sunday, however Titans coach Mike Vrabel can be sensible to carry him out till the postseason. Division rivals will be robust regardless of their report, but when the Titans wish to have any playoff success, they want to have the ability to knock off a 4-12 crew at house with the highest seed on the road. That might give Henry practically the total 21-day interval for extra restoration and follow time to be prepared for a house divisional sport.

Henry has acquired reward, accolades, and a good-looking contract lately, however what he hasn’t acquired is a terrific deal of relaxation. Counting the playoffs, he had totaled practically 400 carries in every of the final two seasons. Henry was effectively on his strategy to a one other 400-carry common season in 2021 earlier than getting damage. He had 219 carries by way of eight video games of a 17-game season.

As a substitute, Henry might bounce straight to the divisional spherical with solely 219 carries in complete, and practically a full three months of relaxation. Woe to no matter protection on a winter Sunday in Nashville has to cope with that 6-foot-3, 250 kilos of that.

Tannehill has proven that he will be the quarterback to guide the Titans to Tremendous Bowl rivalry, however he wants a full cavalry behind him, and most definitely his cannon ball — Henry. Sooner or later they should relaxation Henry extra, however not throughout this playoff run. He’s had sufficient relaxation this season. They should launch him into opposing fronts 40 occasions per sport within the playoffs behind that wholesome offensive line.

With the return of Henry bowling by way of opposing defenses, some well-timed play-motion to A.J. Brown, and a powerful exhibiting from their very own protection, the Titans is perhaps the crew that lastly separates itself from the remainder of the AFC.