The Baltimore Ravens won’t trade Derrick Henry before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, keeping their future Hall of Fame running back through a four-game losing streak and a quarterback room that lost its top two players to injuries.
Baltimore never considered moving the five-time Pro Bowler and recently told Henry it has no plans to deal him, according to league sources. The New York Giants did ask about a Ravens running back, but it was Justice Hill.
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Why are the Ravens keeping Henry?
Trade talk grew after quarterback Lamar Jackson needed surgery on his right thumb and backup Tyler Huntley’s turf toe ended his season. Henry’s history with two current head coaches also drew attention to possible landing spots. John Harbaugh coached him the past two seasons in Baltimore before taking the Giants job, and Mike Vrabel coached him in Tennessee before landing with the New England Patriots.
Moving the 32-year-old still would’ve left Baltimore with roughly $12 million in dead money. His contract runs through 2027, when he’s due a non-guaranteed $11 million base salary, so the Ravens can revisit his future in the offseason.
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Henry made clear after Thursday’s loss that he isn’t pushing for an exit.
“I have not mentioned me going anywhere else,” Henry said. “I’m saying, ‘Let’s go back to work. Let’s try to get better and turn this thing around.'”
Henry gets Jacoby Brissett at quarterback
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) takes the field before they play the Denver Broncos | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Baltimore made its deadline move Friday, when the Jacoby Brissett trade became official. The Ravens received the veteran quarterback and a 2027 fifth-round pick from the Arizona Cardinals for a 2027 fourth-rounder and a 2028 seventh-rounder.
Brissett started Arizona’s first eight games, throwing for 1,719 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also spent the past two seasons in Arizona with Ravens quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork, which should speed up his learning curve.
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Henry needs a passer that defenses have to respect. Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano went 10-of-18 for 60 yards and two interceptions in Thursday’s 33-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, so Jacksonville crowded the line and held Henry to 57 yards on 17 carries, even with him taking direct snaps in the Wildcat. He’s now been held under 60 rushing yards in four straight games.
“It wasn’t good enough. We’ve got to be better,” Henry said. “[It was the] same story.”
The loss dropped the Ravens to 4-5 and marked their third straight defeat by at least 20 points, a franchise-record first. First-year coach Jesse Minter’s offense has also scored fewer than 14 points in four consecutive games for the first time in team history.
What’s next for Henry and Baltimore?
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22). Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
The former Heisman Trophy winner passed Jerome Bettis and LaDainian Tomlinson on Thursday to move into seventh on the NFL’s career rushing list with 13,707 yards. He’s 394 yards behind Curtis Martin for sixth and has 689 rushing yards and eight touchdowns through nine games this season.
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The Ravens sit last in the AFC North while the Pittsburgh Steelers lead at 6-2. Baltimore faces the last-place Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football, then plays road games against the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans before a bye and a home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Ravens hope Jackson can return later this season, and until then their offense runs through Brissett and Henry.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
