NASHVILLE – Titans running back Derrick Henry is counting the days until he's back in uniform, and he's doing it with a smile on his face.
Henry talked to reporters on Wednesday for the first time since suffering a foot injury that's sidelined him since the team's October 31 game against the Colts, which put him on Injured Reserve.
"I'm happy to be back," Henry said. "You definitely appreciate this game a lot more when you are away from it, being away from teammates and just having that camaraderie and going to work every day and playing on Sundays each and every week. I definitely missed that.
"I'm just happy to be back and I'm appreciative of everybody that helped me get to be able to be back and contribute during the playoffs. I am just happy to be back playing football."
Back on January 5, the Titans moved running back Derrick Henry to the team's "Designated for Return from Injured Reserve" list, clearing his return to practice.
He's been practicing ever since, on Tuesday for the first time in pads. Henry said the contact felt "great."
Henry has missed the last nine games with the foot injury.
The Titans will need to activate Henry from Injured Reserve, and off the Designated for Return' list, in order for him to be able to play in Saturday's Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Bengals at Nissan Stadium.
Henry on Wednesday thanked the team's trainers, his teammates, and his girlfriend who drove him to Saint Thomas Sports Park five weeks in a row for rehab when he couldn't drive himself.
Henry also thanked the team's fans.
"Titans fans wrote 'Get Well' letters, and I definitely appreciated that," Henry said. "Just having faith in the man above, and just continuing to rebab and continuing to get healthy and being able to have the opportunity right here."
In eight games in 2021, Henry has totaled 937 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on 219 attempts, along with 18 receptions for 154 yards to give him a total of 1,091 scrimmage yards.
In 2020, Henry was named the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year after rushing 378 times for 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns. Henry became just the eighth player in NFL history to hit the 2,000-yard mark in 2020, and he was honored with his second consecutive Pro Bowl, named first-team Associated Press All-Pro, and won the FedEx Ground Player of the Year Award for the second consecutive year.
In a nine-minute media session on Wednesday, Henry talked about his health, the Bengals defense, the support he's received and the challenge facing him and the Titans on Saturday.
Henry said he feels good, and "(I'm) doing everything I can to be ready for Saturday."
"I want to be the best player that I can be for this team," Henry said, "and contribute the best that I can. Whatever I can do to help, I am always for it. … I am ready to go out there and play."
