Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry Andrew Nelles / USA TODAY NETWORK

Mike Vrabel: Titans to make decision on Derrick Henry Friday

Tennessee Titans star running back Derrick Henry talked with reporters on Wednesday in anticipation of his long-awaited potential return to game action this weekend. Head coach Mike Vrabel told the media on Thursday that he wasn't ready yet to declare the 28-year-old a go for the team's AFC divisional round contest against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, but the decision will come imminently.

Henry was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 1 after he fractured his foot in a win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8 and participated in padded practice for the first time since the injury on Tuesday. The two-time Pro Bowler and defending Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year was designated to return to practice on Jan. 5.

"King Henry" was on a rampant pace through the first half of the season before he went down with his injury. He recorded at least 113 rushing yards in five consecutive games from Week 2 to Week 6. The Alabama product had three separate contests during the standout stretch in which he scored three rushing touchdowns, and he finished the season with 219 carries for 937 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

Henry was potentially on the way to his second straight 2,000-yard season on the ground and was averaging career-highs in rushing attempts per game (27.4) and receptions per contest (2.3) at the time of his injury.

No. 1 Tennessee will host No. 4 Cincinnati at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Watch: Bryson DeChambeau pays tribute to the late Payne Stewart after winning U.S. Open
Rory McIlroy chokes away U.S. Open with pair of brutal missed putts
Watch: Dodgers' Mookie Betts leaves game after taking 98 mph pitch to hand
Dodgers' Dave Roberts confirms Yoshinobu Yamamoto is going on 15-day IL
Ryan Blaney staves off challengers for dominant win at Iowa Corn 350
Sky forward Angel Reese rips officials following loss to Fever
Watch: Denmark's Christian Eriksen nets goal at Euro 2024 three years after suffering cardiac arrest
Watch: UFL championship marred by late on-field altercation between Stallions, Brahmas
Is Commanders' Jayden Daniels likely to open season as starting QB?
Kyrie Irving's warning to potential Celtics is being taken out of context
What could the Ducks fetch for Trevor Zegras in trade?
The biggest surprises during the 2024 MLB season so far
Dodgers star will miss 'some time' with broken bone in left wrist
Former MLB journeyman dies at 61 years old
Pivotal Celtics center deemed questionable ahead of Game 5
Draymond Green weighs in on Klay Thompson's latest move
Tom Brady makes his broadcasting debut during UFL championship
Former top-five pick could follow the Dante Exum blueprint for NBA return
Yankees shelve top prospect once more due to injury concern
Watch: Reds' Elly De La Cruz scores from second base on pickoff attempt

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.