Jacksonville Jaguars Cut Ties with Super Bowl Champion Running Back
The Jacksonville Jaguars have waived former Los Angeles Rams running back Darrell Henderson Jr. Henderson didn’t see the field during his short stint with the team. So, this begs the question: what is next for the former Super Bowl champion?
We have waived RB Darrell Henderson Jr. — Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) December 9, 2022
A Missed Opportunity in the Jaguars’ Backfield
Jacksonville claimed Henderson in late November, only days after a poor performance in his last game with the Rams. So when Travis Etienne went down early in a Week 12 win over the Baltimore Ravens, it surprised some when JaMychal Hasty took over the role. Likewise, it was shocking to see Henderson not even take a snap.p.
With Etienne back in the mix, it seems that Henderson no longer fits with the Jaguars’ plans. As a result, fifth-round pick Snoop Conner is the only remaining back in Jacksonville. The rookie has only four carries this season, but he averaged 5.2 yards per carry over his three years at Ole Miss.
With Darrell Henderson waived, Snoop Conner is the 3rd RB in Jacksonville. pic.twitter.com/7ng1jgta3i — Kev Nivek (@kevnivek_) December 11, 2022
What’s Next For Darrell Henderson?
It’s more than likely that another NFL franchise will give Henderson a shot before the end of the regular season. Scrolling through the list of teams with the worst and most depleted running back rooms shows several opportunities for Henderson to have an impact.
Darrell Henderson up the middle! @DarrellH8 #RamsHouse 📺: #LARvsAZ on FOX 📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/5w0t6mAzQq pic.twitter.com/gMzgfVjT4t — NFL (@NFL) December 6, 2020
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the worst running game in the NFL, statistically speaking. Leonard Fournette has been banged up, and Rachaad White has played well in his place. Behind them are Ke’Shawn Vaugh and Giovanni Bernard. So although Henderson is precisely the running back we’ve seen Tampa take a flyer on in the past, I think they will pass on Henderson barring another injury.
Houston is always an option for a recently cut running back. Dameon Pierce has had some great games this season, but he has struggled recently, and there isn’t much depth behind him. So will Henderson join Eno Benjamin as the newest mid-season addition?
The Denver Broncos have been a revolving door of veteran running backs this season. With Javonte Williams injured and Melvin Gordon in Kansas City, this backfield now includes two backs (Latavius Murray and Marlon Mack) that had been cut earlier in the year. With Chase Edmonds still on IR and this team struggling to find an offensive identity, they could reach out to Henderson..
New Orleans and Seattle are intriguing options as well. The Saints and Seahawks are dealing with injuries, and Henderson could provide short-term relief to either team. Honorable mentions include the Arizona Cardinals, who don’t have much behind James Conner, and the Miami Dolphins.
What’s Next for the Jacksonville Jaguars?
The Jacksonville Jaguars boast a top-10 running game as far as yards per game are concerned. Etienne will continue to be the lead back, while Hasty will mainly contribute to the passing game.
Most yards per touch this season (min. 150 touches) Tony Pollard 6.4 Travis Etienne Jr. 5.8 Josh Jacobs 5.8 Christian McCaffrey 5.6 pic.twitter.com/DZ3iDJaSXW — NICK 10-3 (@clark_0488) December 9, 2022
Conner is worth keeping an eye on, as he did a lot with his limited role in college. The Jaguars still have a 4% chance of making the playoffs, so they’ll likely turn to Conner if Etienne misses time again this year. It makes more sense to see what they have rather than bringing in another veteran to take those snaps away.