Dec 24, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) fights off a tackle attempt by /Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson (22) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The Tennessee Titans now know their opponent for an AFC divisional round game next weekend, but what they still don’t know for sure is whether running back DeMarco Murray will return.
Murray sat out the Titans’ 22-21 road victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday in a wild-card game. The win advanced Tennessee into the next round against the New England Patriots on Saturday in Foxborough, Mass.
On Sunday, Titans coach Mike Mularkey listed Murray, the team’s leading rusher during the regular season, as day to day for this week.
Murray is dealing with an MCL tear he suffered two weeks ago. It’s an injury that can take from two to six weeks to heal.
Without Murray against the Chiefs, Derrick Henry seized the opportunity and stepped up his game.
Henry ran for 156 yards and a touchdown, including a 35-yard touchdown jaunt in the fourth quarter.
“I just wanted to have a better performance than I had last week,” Henry said. “I just wanted to be able to help the offense and be explosive to help this team win.”
In Henry’s second straight start in place of Murray, he averaged 6.8 yards per carry against Kansas City..
“Derrick ran like a beast,” Titans tight end Delanie Walker said. “He’s probably one of the biggest backs in the league, and he ran like it today.”
Henry has run for 744 yards on 176 carries with five touchdowns in 2017. Murray rushed for 659 yards and six touchdowns on 184 carries and caught 39 passes for 266 yards and one touchdown.
