Derrick Henry is emerging as a feature back for the Tennessee Titans in DeMarco Murray’s absence, which has led to some speculation that Murray’s time with the team could be over.
ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe wrote an article on Thursday about the passing of the torch from Henry to Murray. In that article, Wolfe said there is a “decent chance” Murray’s time with the Titans is over.
There’s a decent chance that we have seen Murray take his last snap in a Titans uniform. Murray is out Saturday with a torn MCL, and he won’t return unless the Titans make the AFC Championship or Super Bowl. It’s time to hand the feature back keys to Henry. Murray is scheduled to make $6.5 million in 2018, probably too much money for a backup, but the Titans will owe no dead money if he’s cut.
Murray will be 30 next season, which is a time when many backs decline. Murray may have already shown signs of that. After rushing for 1,287 yards and catching 53 passes in 2016 for Tennessee, Murray averaged just 3.6 yards per carry this season and rushed for almost half as many yards as he did last season. It most certainly is Henry’s time to star for this team. Bringing Murray back for $6.5 million next season wouldn’t make much sense.
