Derrick Henry's season may have come to an end on Sunday afternoon.
The Titans' running back suffered an apparent foot injury against the Colts. He stayed on the sideline with his cleat off for a handful of plays but later returned to the game and totaled 68 rushing yards on 28 carries.
However, Henry is getting an MRI on his injured foot Monday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, and the fear is that he could be dealing with a season-ending injury.
Titans’ RB Derrick Henry suffered a potentially season-ending foot injury during Sunday’s 34-31 win over Indianapolis, sources reported ESPN. Henry is undergoing an MRI today to determine the full extent of the damage.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2021
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Titans coach Mike Vrabel announced that Henry will have surgery on a broken bone in his foot Tuesday morning but was mum about a potential return for the star running back.
"Derrick's going to have surgery in the morning and we're not going to put a timeline on when he may return," Vrabel told reporters. "I know he'll do everything that he can to work himself back — to be able to help this football team. Whenever that is, that's when it'll be.
"I know he'll be around our team as soon as he can. I know that's important to him. I know that'll be important to our team. We'll have to move on without him here in the short term and not look back."
What exactly is Henry's foot injury? Henry suffered a broken fifth metatarsal in his foot, per Fox Sports' Jay Glazer. Recovery time for that type of injury can take up to 10 weeks depending on its severity, per Upswing Health. It also typically takes 12 weeks for the injury to be fully healed.
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This is a devastating blow to the Titans' offense. Henry was on pace for a second consecutive 2,000-yard season and played in 71 percent of the Titans' offensive snaps through eight weeks. He has shouldered 219 rushing attempts for the Titans. All other Titans running backs have combined for 11 carries.
Making matters worse, Darrynton Evans — Henry's projected backup and a former third-round pick by the Titans in the 2020 NFL Draft — was placed on IR for the second time before Sunday's game. That means he will be out for the season as well.
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Jeremy McNichols figures to get the first shot to replace Henry. He has served as a third-down back for the Titans and has 21 catches for 203 yards and a touchdown on the season.
McNichols and Dontrell Hilliard are the only healthy options on the Titans' running back depth chart right now, and Hilliard just signed with the team on Oct. 27. As such, Tennessee could explore the free agent and trade markets for a veteran replacement should Henry be out for the season.
Veterans like Todd Gurley, Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore are available. Perhaps the Titans could add one as depth for their potential playoff run.
Either way though, the Titans' offense won't look the same without Henry.
