NASHVILLE – Running back Derrick Henry is headed back home again.
On Sunday, Henry will return to Jacksonville, located just down the road from his hometown of Yulee, Florida, to face the Jaguars.
"It's always fun to be able to go home and play in front of your family – it ain't fun getting tickets," Henry said with smile on Thursday. "But it's always fun to be able to go back home and play against the team you grew up watching."
As a prep star, Henry played a game at EverBank Stadium. He was recognized in the stadium during his record-breaking senior season at Yulee High.
"I think they are nicer (to me) when I am not playing, visiting, rather than when I'm playing," Henry said of previous homecoming trips. "But it's all love. It's football. They're a fan of the home team, and I respect it, and we're the opposing team trying to come win."
During the course of his NFL career, Henry's success against the Jaguars has been remarkable.
Some key stats:
-Henry has 1,373 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns in 13 career games vs Jaguars. Henry has the most rush yards and rush touchdowns of any player vs the Jaguars all-time.
-Henry, with a 105.6-yard average, is one of two running backs to average 100-plus rush YPG and one-plus rush touchdowns per game vs a single opponent in his career over the last 50 seasons (min. 10 games).
-Henry has had 200-plus rush yards and two rush TD in a game vs the Jaguars twice in his career.
Henry, who has 625 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the season, which is 2nd in the NFL behind only Christian McCaffrey's 747, is closing in on the 9,000-yard mark for his career.
Henry needs just 40-plus yards to become the 8th player in NFL history with 9,000-plus rush yards and 80-plus rushing touchdowns over their first eight seasons.
"It's definitely a blessing, to be able to get to that mileage," said Henry, who has 8,960 rush yards and 82 rush touchdowns in his career. "I don't take it for granted. I am thankful for everyone who helped me get to this point. I'm blessed and thankful to be able to play this game as long as I have and I'm looking forward to Sunday."
