For the third occasion in a sequence of weeks, star running back Derrick Henry committed an error.
The Baltimore Ravens player lost control of the ball in the final quarter of the Ravens’ 38-30 defeat against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium on Monday night. Even though it wasn’t the primary factor in the Ravens’ loss, which now puts them at a 1-2 record for the year, it certainly contributed to hindering any potential comeback.
That situation handed the Lions possession of the ball with a four-point advantage, which they swiftly extended to seven points following a field goal just four plays afterward.
The turnover clearly frustrated Henry on the sidelines.
Henry has now mishandled the ball in all three of the Ravens’ matches this season. He’s been responsible for two fumbles in crucial moments during the fourth quarter. In comparison, Henry only fumbled three times throughout the entire previous season. He didn’t fumble at all during the 2023 season.
Henry, who concluded with 50 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries in the defeat, expressed his apologies to his teammates following the game. He also admitted he is unsure of the cause of this recent issue.
Despite this uncharacteristic and difficult start for Henry, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh stated that he retains his confidence in his running back. Additionally, Harbaugh pointed out that Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson executed a flawless play on the ball to instigate the turnover.
“It hasn’t typically been [the case for him],” Harbaugh remarked, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “I don’t foresee it continuing moving forward, but we need to address and rectify the issue. That was somewhat of an unforeseen hit. I believe he had the ball in a secure position, but I also think the defender had a clear view of it … A confluence of unfortunate circumstances. Nonetheless, we still aim to safeguard the football.”
While Henry remains an undeniably powerful running back — he is averaging a touchdown and almost 81 rushing yards each game, which ranks fourth highest among running backs in the league — there is no uncertainty that he is currently facing difficulties with maintaining possession of the ball. He will have an opportunity to rectify that and complete a full game without errors this coming Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
