Fueled by high school haters, RB Henry back

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A quick search can yield viral footage of Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry from his Yulee High School days, running through defenders like the Incredible Hulk plowing through bad guys.

Despite rushing for more yards (12,124) than any other high school football player to that point, Henry remembers something most people would want to forget.

“I still get motivated from stuff back in high school,” Henry said. “They said I wouldn’t make it this far at this position. Usually, guys who are big and play running back in high school turn into edge rushers or get put on defense.”

But not the 6-foot-3, 247 pound Henry.

That’s what makes 28-year-old so great. He’s always looking for something to give him that extra motivation.

It’s also a big reason he has made a tremendous comeback from a Jones fracture in his right foot that caused him to miss the final nine regular-season games last year.

Henry was leading the NFL with 937 rushing yards when he suffered the injury in a Week 8 road win over the Indianapolis Colts. He made it back for the divisional playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals — when he rushed for 62 yards on 20 carries.

Entering the season, there were doubts that Henry could return to his league-leading form. And Henry, who won the rushing title in 2019 (1,540 yards) and 2020 (2,027 yards), normally doesn’t bother with outside noise.

But this time it was different, as Henry reported to training camp with a chip on his shoulder.

“Someone could motivate me and wouldn’t even know it,” Henry said at the start of camp. “The doubters, whatever they want to be, I am definitely motivated. I’m ready to go. So we going to see.”

Henry and the Titans (6-3) will get their next test on the road against the Green Bay Packers (4-6) on Thursday (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video) at Lambeau Field.