For the past three years the AFC South has been ruled by the duo of Derrick Henry and Mike Vrabel. The running back has propelled an unstoppable rendition of the outside-zone offense, and the Titans coach has designed a complementary defense while also creating a culture of fearlessness. Vrabel isn’t going anywhere anytime soon—he said as much following Tennessee’s surprise early ouster from the playoffs last season, when the No. 1 seed fell to the Bengals. But if the division seems more up in the air, it’s because Henry’s future is.
The 28-year-old missed nine games with a broken bone in his foot last year, and, when he returned for the playoffs, he did not look like the same back he was before the injury. It’s possible he simply returned too soon, but it raised the question of whether his massive workload—he led the league in rushing attempts in 2019 and ’20 and was 10th last year despite playing a partial season—might finally be catching up with him. The Titans drafted the tough-running Hassan Haskins of Michigan in the fourth round to add depth behind Henry. Beyond hoping Henry is his old self, the Titans must find a replacement for top receiver A.J. Brown, whom Tennessee traded to the Eagles. Ideally first-round pick Treylon Burks out of Arkansas would acclimate quickly.
The Titans also must fend off improved division rivals, most notably in Indianapolis. The Colts ditched sometimes-erratic quarterback Carson Wentz after one season in favor of Matt Ryan, the 2016 MVP who spent 14 seasons with the Falcons and became available during that franchise’s unsuccessful pursuit of Deshaun Watson. Ryan, 37, is the latest in a cattle call of veteran quarterbacks Indianapolis has turned to since Andrew Luck’s stunning retirement before the ’19 season. First, it tried Jacoby Brissett. Then Philip Rivers. Then Wentz. Last year Ryan threw for his fewest yards since ’10, but his supporting cast had slipped, and he could well be invigorated by a fresh start under Colts coach Frank Reich, who has earned a reputation as one of the best play-callers in the NFL. With Indy, Ryan will have the luxury of working with the best running back in the league, Jonathan Taylor.
