Titans to work out NFL great following Derrick Henry injury

The Tennessee Titans could be without star running back Derrick Henry for the remainder of the season. Henry suffered a foot injury in the Titans’ 34-31 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The Titans are quickly moving in a pursuit of potential additions to the running back room. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Adrian Peterson is expected to work out with the Titans this week.

“The Titans are expected to work out veteran RB Adrian Peterson this week, sources say, in the wake of the Derrick Henry foot injury,” Rapoport said. “Tennessee could replace the MVP candidate with one of the greatest running backs of all time.”

Henry was originally injured in the first quarter. He had his foot checked out but was able to return to the game. Henry rushed for 68 yards on 28 carries in the game. As the unquestioned best pure rusher in the league right now, Henry has 937 yards and ten touchdowns on the season. The closest running back in terms of rushing yards to Henry is Nick Chubb, who has 584 yards.

Adrian Peterson would bring plenty of experience to the Titans

The Titans are 6-2 on the year and are in the driver’s seat in the AFC South. Outside of Henry, no running back on the roster has double digit carries. Jeremy McNichols has seven carries for 38 yards. McNichols has played a role in the passing game with 21 receptions for 203 yards and a touchdown. His role will likely be much bigger moving forward, even with the addition of another running back.

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.

Other running backs on the free agent market include Todd Gurley, Frank Gore, D’Onta Foreman, Kerryon Johnson, Derrius Guice, and Alfred Morris among others.

Next up for the Titans is a road trip on Sunday night to take on the Los Angeles Rams.