Running back Derrick Henry expressed deep frustration following his third fumble in three games, a turnover that significantly contributed to the Baltimore Ravens‘ 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions on September 25, 2023. After the game, Henry slammed his helmet against the bench in disbelief, visibly shaken by his performance.
With the Ravens trailing 28-24 in the fourth quarter, Henry had the ball knocked loose by Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson at Baltimore’s 16-yard line. The Lions capitalized on the turnover, converting it into a crucial field goal. This incident marked Henry’s second fourth-quarter fumble this season, both occurring in matches that the Ravens ultimately lost.
In his previous nine seasons, Henry had only lost two fourth-quarter fumbles across 136 games. He acknowledged the unusual nature of his current struggles, stating, “I’m at a loss for words. This sucks right now. I ain’t going to lie to y’all.” The 31-year-old running back took responsibility for his mistakes, apologizing to teammates, coaches, and fans. “It’s just crazy. Three fumbles [in three games] straight. I’m trying every day to fix the problem that just keeps occurring,” he added, emphasizing his role as his own toughest critic.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh downplayed concerns regarding Henry’s ball security, suggesting that the hit was unexpected. “That was kind of a blind shot there. I thought he had the ball in good position,” Harbaugh explained. He emphasized the necessity of protecting the football, noting that the team’s commitment to ball security is paramount.
Despite his recent struggles, Henry remains one of the most accomplished running backs in NFL history. He ranks 18th on the league’s all-time rushing list with 11,665 yards and is sixth with 109 rushing touchdowns. However, his performance against the Lions was disappointing, as he managed only 50 rushing yards, following a mere 24 yards in the previous week’s victory over the Cleveland Browns.
The Ravens, now sitting at 1-2, are preparing for a challenging matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, where they hold an 0-3 record against quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Henry reflected on the team’s current adversity, stating, “Adversity is rough right now. But as long as we stay focused — and everybody else will stay focused — we’ll try to turn this thing around. I know we will.”
As Baltimore looks to regain momentum, the spotlight remains on Henry, who will need to address his recent issues to help the Ravens secure a much-needed victory in their upcoming game.
