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How fast is Derrick Henry? Ravens RB shows blazing speed on 87-yard TD run against Bills

How fast is Derrick Henry? Ravens RB shows blazing speed on 87-yard TD run against Bills

Derrick Henry may be on a new team, but he’s still the same running back, capable of overpowering defenders and reaching high speeds in the open field.

In Baltimore’s matchup with the Bills on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 4, Henry showcased that speed on the Ravens’ first offensive play.

Henry broke through for an 87-yard touchdown, giving his team an early lead.

Given his massive scoring output in Week 4, here’s what you should know about Henry’s game-changing speed, including his running speed in the touchdown against Buffalo, where he ranks among the fastest ball carriers in 2024, and his time in the final 40 minutes.

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Derrick Henry speed in the game

Even in his first year with his new team, Henry, now 30, remained one of the top talents in the league. On the Ravens’ first play of the game on Sunday, he scored an 87-yard touchdown against the Bills, the longest run in Ravens franchise history.

According to Nate Tice, NFL Next Gen Stats hit Henry at a top speed of 21.29 mph on the touchdown run.

That run also marked his third career 80-yard touchdown run, putting him in conversation with two of the best players the running back position has ever seen.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Henry’s game-breaking speed is his 247-pound frame, which also allows him to run over some of the league’s biggest defenders.

Henry is built like a defensive end, but as fast as some of the league’s best offensive weapons. This combination has helped him build a stellar career with the Titans and Ravens so far. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Henry has exceeded 20 mph as a ball carrier 27 times since 2018, trailing only Tyreek Hill, who has done it a whopping 73 times.

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How Derrick Henry compares to the NFL’s fastest players in 2024

NFL Next Gen Stats tracks the fastest ball carriers each week of football, giving fans the opportunity to see which players are the fastest with the ball in their hands.

While the database doesn’t include players who didn’t have the ball on a play, it does provide good insight into the league’s fastest players at skill positions like wide receiver and running back.

Henry joins the list with his run against the Bills in early 2024, tying him with Jerome Ford as the fourth-fastest in-game velocity for a ball carrier through four weeks of play this season.

Here’s a look at the updated list of the 10 fastest ball carriers in 2024, courtesy of NFL Next Gen Stats.

rank player team position Speed ​​(mph) Week Game type
1 Nico Collins Texan WR 21.89 1 55 yard rec
2 Saquon Barkley eagle RB 21.66 3 65-yard rushing TD
3 Xavier Worthy Chiefs WR 21.46 4 54-yard rec TD
4 Jerome Ford Tan RB 21.29 2 36-yard rush
5 Derrick Henry Ravens RB 21.29 4 87-yard rushing TD
6 Brandin Echols Jets CB 21.27 2 0-yard INT
7 Alec Pierce Colts WR 21.21 1 60 yard rec TD
8 Saquon Barkley eagle RB 21.17 4 59-yard rush
9 Anthony Gould Colts WR November 21st 1 26-yard kickoff return
10 Ladd McConkey Chargers WR 09/21 4 37 yard rec

Derrick Henry 40 times

As a candidate for the NFL Combine in 2016, Henry ran an unofficial 40-yard dash of 4.54 seconds.

While he would have been ranked as the No. 13 running back prospect at the 2024 NFL Combine at the time, there’s a good chance Henry has gotten faster over his time in the league as he sticks to a strict diet and strenuous offseason training regimen .

Henry has remained one of the NFL’s best overall athletes throughout his nine seasons, and he continues to showcase his speed on game-winning plays.