BALTIMORE — Derrick Henry absorbed contact and pushed his defender into the end zone.
No, it wasn't a highlight from the Baltimore Ravens running back’s eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans.
This was Henry driving through Titans safety Kevin Winston Jr. for a 5-yard touchdown run in the Ravens’ 24-18 victory over the Titans on Oct. 4 at M&T Bank Stadium.
“It was surreal, crazy,” Henry said of facing his former team for the first time since he and the Titans parted ways. “Glad we got the win. Onto next week.”
Henry was short-winded as usual with reporters. But he had plenty to say about the touchdown while celebrating it.
“He was talking to me,” said Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, who played with Henry for five seasons with Tennessee
(2019-23). “Throughout the game we were talking smack … Eventually we ended up coming to each other (after the game). There was a lot of respect and ‘keep going,’ and that’s what I expect him to do. The respect will always be there for Derrick. I know what he did for the franchise of Tennessee.”
Titans safety Amani Hooker took a direct blow from Henry at one point and was evaluated for a concussion before being cleared to return.
Henry's former teammates didn't know what it would be like to tackle him. Henry wasn't allowed to be hit during Titans practices, Hooker said.
“I mean, Derrick had a full head of steam. The third down was pretty close so I tried to put my head down in front of him. I took a knee to the head,” Hooker said. “It was exciting (facing him). Me and Jeff had been with him obviously the most on our team. Great back, all-time back. Being on the same team as him, it nice to see what other teams felt tackling him. I know I had a lot of fun going against him.”
Derrick Henry stats vs Tennessee Titans
Henry rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries (3.2 yards per carry) against the Titans. He also caught two passes for six yards.
The Titans largely kept him in check. Henry averaged just over 100 yards through Baltimore's first three games.
Simmons said Henry bounced outside on his touchdown which isolated him against Winston, a second-year player who grew up in Maryland.
“I mean, him versus (a defensive back), he should win it,” Simmons said. “I told (Winston), ‘Whatever. Next time we’ll get more hats to the ball.’ And that’s what we started to do. We were hitting him pretty hard today.”
Henry is the NFL’s top active running back in practically every career category. His 129 career rushing touchdowns are 57 ahead of second-place Green Bay’s Josh Jacobs (74). His career 100-yard rushing games (56) are 25 ahead of Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley.
Henry is No. 9 all-time in NFL career rushing yards with (13,392.)
Tyler Palmateer covers the Tennessee Titans for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What Tennessee Titans' Jeffery Simmons said about facing Derrick Henry for first time
