ExtremeRavens Posted September 25 Posted September 25 Pick the negative emotion and Ravens running back Derrick Henry is feeling it right now. Mostly, though, the three-time All-Pro is still annoyed 48 hours removed from his third fumble of the season in as many games. “I’m still pissed off, mad at myself,” he said Wednesday. “I’m my own worst critic, so I don’t try to harp on it too much. I talked to my family, the people that I get advice from, my teammates, lean on them. “But at the same time it’s a problem that gotta get fixed, so I’m working on it. I’m working as hard as I can to let this issue be resolved.” On Monday night against the Detroit Lions, with Baltimore trailing 28-24 in the fourth quarter, Henry had the ball ripped from behind by Pro Bowl defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. Cornerback D.J. Reed recovered at the Ravens’ 16-yard line, setting up a critical field goal in what would eventually be another disheartening loss for Baltimore. The defeat leaves the Ravens at 1-2 on the season with a trip to Arrowhead Stadium to face the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs, who are also 1-2 but 4-1 against Baltimore with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. Just as concerning, though, to the Ravens and to Henry, are the back’s foibles when trying to hold onto the ball. Henry, 31, fumbled three times in 17 games last season for Baltimore en route to 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns on 325 carries in his first season with the Ravens. The year before, with the Tennessee Titans, he did not fumble at all. Coming into 2025, he had just 20 career fumbles on 2,529 total touches and through three games has already coughed it up three times on just 43 carries. “I feel like I’m letting my teammates down,” he said Wednesday. How does he plan to fix the problem? “It’s embarrassing for me to be talking about this, because I am having this issue, but you have to hold the ball high and tight to keep it away from the defense [and] keep it away from the defender so you keep the ball,” he said. “We have a thing we call ‘Raven claw’ around here to have another arm around it, to keep it protected and keep the defense from getting to it. “I just have to keep doing that in practice and let it transition to the game. But just know I’m working. I’m working, and it’s rough right now, but it’s going to come back around, I promise you.” Ravens running back Derrick Henry steps over pads while coaches swipe at the ball during practice. Henry said it was "embarrassing" for him to be talking about his fumbles. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Those around Henry aren’t concerned about his ability to fix the glitch. “He is very, very accountable,” coach John Harbaugh said. “When somebody cares so much about what they’re doing and so accomplished and so talented and so good and work so hard, as a coach you just can’t worry about that. “I’m not worried about Derrick Henry at all.” Neither is the guy handing him the ball, quarterback Lamar Jackson, who consoled an angry Henry after the running back slammed his helmet to the bench in frustration on Monday night. “Once you feel like you are a part of something — it might be a loss, or you felt like you did something wrong — you’re going to always put the blame on yourself,” Jackson said. “We still could have executed and made something happen. We can’t fault him for that. Players mess up.” When Henry has held onto the ball, he has run well for the most part. In a Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills in which the Ravens blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead, he rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns on just 18 carries. A week later in a victory over the Cleveland Browns, he was held to just 23 yards on 11 carries. In Week 3, the Lions held him to 50 yards and one score on 12 carries, but he averaged a respectable 4.2 yards. The one thing all three games had in common, of course, were fumbles. Now comes a showdown with the Chiefs, who have been Jackson’s “kryptonite” during his tenure in Baltimore. It’s a “huge” game, Henry said, given the Ravens’ slow start to the season. He’s also motivated to put his fumbling follies behind him. “When stuff like that happens, I feel like the week goes by slower,” he said. “You’re just waiting and itching for another opportunity.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
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