Tennessee Titans' Derrick Henry to return this season? 'He's working at it,' source says
It still isn't clear when Derrick Henry will return to the Tennessee Titans, but the possibility of the star running back making a late-season comeback remains, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told the Tennessean.
Henry is working on being available for the Titans for the final stretch, the source said. When exactly that will be remains unclear.
The NFL Network reported that Henry is on track to return by the playoffs or sooner, adding that Henry is still wearing a walking boot as a precaution when he’s away from the facility. The report noted that there’s an appointment this week to provide more clarity on his injury.
“We’ll see,” the source said Monday of Henry returning this season. “He’s working at it.”
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Henry has been on injured reserve since Nov. 1 with a foot injury he suffered against the Colts on Oct. 31. He underwent surgery Nov. 2.
The two-time Pro Bowler reportedly suffered a Jones fracture, a break at the base of the fifth metatarsal in the foot. The estimated recovery time for a Jones fracture is 6-to-8 weeks.
Sunday marked six weeks from Henry’s injury. So the most optimistic timeline would give the All-Pro running back a chance to play for the Titans (9-4) this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6-1) at Heinz Field on Sunday (noon CT, CBS).
Eight weeks from Henry’s injury is Dec. 26, ahead of the team's Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 2.
Of course, there’s no telling when Henry will be designated to return to practice, opening his 21-day window to be activated.
Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, who broke the fifth metatarsal in his foot on Sept. 15, returned to practice in 10 weeks and played in a game the 11th week. He has a similar body type as Henry (Lawrence is listed at 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds; Henry at 6-3 and 247 pounds), though the similarity to the exact nature of Henry's injury is unclear. They also play different positions.
Like the NFL Network report, a recent update on Henry’s status from ESPN’s Dianna Russini was also hopeful. She told 104.5 The Zone last Thursday that she believes there’s optimism in the organization that Henry could return by January or sooner.
Publicly, the Titans haven’t put a timeline on Henry’s return. Coach Mike Vrabel is known to demur timelines and avoid specifics of injuries. But in his news conference following Henry's injury, Vrabel never ruled out Henry for the season.
“There is absolutely a chance,” Vrabel said Nov. 1 of a potential Henry return in 2021. “I can’t sit here and tell you that is going to happen. I just know that Derrick Henry, and hopefully everybody else that is out, is going to do everything they possibly can to get back as quickly as they possibly can.”
Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at barthur@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Derrick Henry injury update: Tennessee Titans star still eyeing return
