NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Titans working again Derrick Henry watched as Nick Chubb’s season, and presumably his NFL profession, ended with a success bending Chubb’s left knee the unsuitable course.
Sure, the three-time Professional Bowl working again had the identical response as everybody else watching the grisly harm in actual time.
“It was robust to see and particularly the kind of participant he’s,” Henry mentioned Thursday after solely posting a string of broken-hearted and unhappy emojis on social media in response Monday evening. “Don’t need issues to occur, however I imply that comes with the sport.”
The harm comes with the Titans (1-1) visiting Chubb’s Cleveland Browns (1-1) on Sunday. It additionally provides a stark reminder of why Henry acquired a few of the NFL’s prime working backs texting and speaking this offseason about the right way to enhance their market worth.
The NFL filed a grievance Sept. 11 towards the NFL Gamers Affiliation, alleging that union leaders, together with President JC Tretter, have suggested working backs to “take into account feigning or exaggerating accidents” to assist enhance their leverage in contract negotiations.
But, the names of working backs sidelined by critical accidents is prolonged simply two weeks into the season:
— Baltimore’s J.Okay. Dobbins tore his Achilles tendon within the season opener, coincidentally the final 12 months of his rookie contract.
— 2021 NFL dashing chief Jonathan Taylor is on the bodily unable to carry out record in Indianapolis after offseason ankle surgical procedure. He’s within the last 12 months of his rookie contract.
— Austin Ekeler missed the Chargers’ extra time loss to Tennessee final week with a sprained ankle.
— Giants working again Saquon Barkley was dominated out of Thursday evening’s recreation at San Francisco with a sprained proper ankle. Barkley is enjoying underneath the franchise tag New York used paying him $10.1 million, the bottom for any place apart from punters and kickers.
On Thursday, Henry mentioned accidents occur within the NFL and Chubb, whom he referred to as the most effective backs within the league, was merely making an attempt to complete a bodily run.
“You by no means need to see that occur,” Henry mentioned.
“All of the backs simply making an attempt to get on the market and showcase our skills and do no matter we will to assist our groups win and simply do no matter we will to point out our price to every workforce. And I do know these guys are working onerous to do this day-after-day. However this unlucky state of affairs.”
Chubb and Barkley are two of the NFL’s prime 4 working backs by wage cap hit and base wage this season. Cleveland can get out of Chubb’s deal in 2024 relying on the severity of his left knee harm, and Barkley can be a free agent if the Giants don’t use the franchise tag on him once more.
Henry grew to become the eighth man in NFL historical past to run for not less than 2,000 yards in a season in 2020. He was on his solution to main the league in dashing for a 3rd straight season when he broke his proper foot in 2021. He leads all working backs with a wage cap hit of $16.3 million for this season.
He rested Thursday. The working again who turns 30 in January and is within the last 12 months of his contract is on the Titans’ harm report with a toe challenge that restricted him in observe Wednesday.
Henry is also sharing a few of the workload with rookie Tyjae Spears. Henry nonetheless instructions the eye of opposing defenses, dealing with a stacked field on almost half his carries, most of any NFL working again in Week 2. He nonetheless completed with 80 yards on 25 rushes and scored a landing.
For now, Henry is 97 yards from passing his “working again superhero” in Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Earl Campbell for second in yards dashing on this franchise’s historical past.
“For me to be talked about together with his title is sort of a dream come true,” Henry mentioned.
NOTES: Teair Tart (knee) was restricted Thursday after not practising Wednesday. S Amani Hooker (concussion protocol) and CB Kristian Fulton (hamstring) practiced totally for a second straight day. The Titans added three-time All-Professional WR DeAndre Hopkins (ankle) to the harm report as restricted after he practiced totally Wednesday. Rookie WR/KR Kearis Jackson damage an ankle Thursday through the open portion of observe and was restricted.
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