Tennessee Titans add running back in wake of Derrick Henry injury

The Tennessee Titans are signing veteran running back Adrian Peterson. This comes hour after reports emerged that star running back could miss the remainder of the season with a foot injury. Henry will undergo foot surgery on Tuesday.

After Henry’s injury was revealed, reports came out that the Titans were bringing Peterson in for a workout. Now, the two sides have agreed to a deal. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Peterson will be joining the Titans, although he won’t initially join the active roster.

“Adrian Peterson is initially signing to the Titans’ practice squad with the expectation he will be added to the active roster, per source,” Schefter tweeted.

Henry was originally injured in the first quarter. He later returned the game and rushed for 68 yards on 28 carries. On the season, Henry has rushed for 937 yards and ten touchdowns. The closest running back to Henry in rushing yards is Nick Chubb, who has 584.

Peterson joins the Titans after playing for Detroit last year

Going the veteran route makes a lot of sense for the Titans. They have Jeremy McNichols on the roster, but he is more of a factor in the passing game. On the season, McNichols has seven carries for 38 yards, but he has 21 receptions for 203 yards and a touchdown.

Adding Peterson would be a low-risk move for the Titans. The former seventh overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft played for the Detroit Lions last season. Peterson is one of the best running backs in NFL history. In his career, he has rushed 3,192 times for 14,820 yards and 118 touchdowns. He also has 301 receptions for 2,466 yards.

Peterson last rushed for 1,000 yards in 2018 for Washington. That year, he rushed 251 times for 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns. Peterson posted a historic stat line in 2012, rushing for over 2,000 yards on his way to a MVP award. The former Oklahoma star has run for at least seven touchdowns in every full season that he has played in the NFL.

The Titans face the Los Angeles Rams, who just traded for Von Miller, on Sunday night.