Derrick Henry Makes Titans Pay for Letting Him Go, Scoring First in Ravens’ 24-18 Win
Derrick Henry’s first game against the Titans did not turn into a rout, but it started the way Ravens fans hoped. Henry opened the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1, powering through safety Kevin Winston Jr. It was a tone-setting moment against the team that let him walk.
Here is how Henry made the Titans pay, how that long-rumored trade fits in, and why the win came with a worrying injury.
Henry Sets the Tone on the Opening Drive
The game was barely a minute old when the Titans handed Baltimore a short field. Cam Ward tried to flip a desperation pass to Tony Pollard on the second play from scrimmage, and it went through Pollard’s arms and was picked off by Trenton Simpson. Five plays later, Henry was in the end zone.
That touchdown was his fourth straight game with a score to start the season. He became the first player since Devonta Freeman in 2015 with seven rushing touchdowns through the first four games.
A Quiet Stat Line, an Important Win
Fans expecting a 150-yard revenge game didn’t get one. Henry carried 23 times for 73 yards and a touchdown and caught both his targets for six yards. That works out to about 3.2 yards per carry.
It wasn’t a blowout either. Baltimore led 24-7 at the half, but Ward found Wan’Dale Robinson for a 3-yard score with 1:12 left, and a successful two-point conversion made it a six-point game before Malaki Starks recovered the onside kick. The Ravens also committed 13 penalties for 131 yards.
Still, the win moved Baltimore to 3-1 and snapped a four-game home losing streak. Henry’s steady work, plus eight catches for 118 yards and a touchdown from Zay Flowers, was enough.
The Trade That Never Happened
This is the part of the story that gives the matchup its edge. Eric DeCosta confirmed the Ravens were working on a deal for Henry midway through the 2023 season, saying he thought there was a reasonable chance it would get done.
According to The Athletic’s Dan Pompei, DeCosta and then-GM Ran Carthon agreed to the framework: a fourth-round pick that could become a third, but others in the Titans hierarchy weren’t on board. Some reports pointed to owner Amy Adams Strunk, but that part is unconfirmed, and Carthon denied the report.
What isn’t in dispute is the outcome. Henry left for nothing in free agency, and he has said the Titans never offered him a contract.
Was Letting Him Go Really the Mistake?
There is a fair counterargument. One Yahoo Sports column argued the breakup was mutual and defensible, and that the Titans’ failed plan to replace him was the real failure. That’s a reasonable read: the sin may not have been parting ways with a back in his 30s, but having nothing to show for it.
Where the Titans Stand Now
The Titans are 0-4, and second-year quarterback Cam Ward is 3-18 as a starter. In fairness, Saleh said it was Ward’s best game of the season, and Tennessee ran the ball seven straight times in the red zone and came away with no points after being stuffed on fourth-and-goal. Coaching decisions hurt them as much as anything Henry did.
Henry’s Legacy Chapter
This is our analysis: Henry doesn’t need revenge to be effective. He finished second in the NFL in rushing yards for the fourth straight season in 2025, and he’s still the engine of this offense in his age-32 season. A longtime Titans reporter in the video even called him the best player in franchise history, which is an opinion, but it shows how the Titans’ fan base still sees him.
The Bigger Worry: Lamar Jackson’s Ankle
The headline cost of the win was Lamar Jackson leaving with an ankle injury. Watch the injury reports this week, because the Ravens were already thin along the offensive line.
For detailed analysis, visit:
https://youtu.be/pVNNlAZYvVA
FAQ
Did Derrick Henry score against the Titans?
Yes, a 5-yard touchdown on the opening drive, on fourth-and-1.
How many yards did Henry have?
73 yards on 23 carries, plus two catches for six yards.
Was a Henry trade to the Ravens really in place in 2023?
Reports said a framework was agreed, and DeCosta confirmed Baltimore believed it had a reasonable chance to get a deal done. The owner-veto detail is unconfirmed.
Conclusion: What Do You Think?
Did Henry get his revenge, or does a 3.2-yard average mean the real story was something else? And how worried are you about Lamar’s ankle? Tell us in the comments.
