10,000 speeding yards: Will Henry, Elliott be the final RBs to succeed in the historic mark?

Ezekiel Elliott wasn’t certain what he was seeing the primary time he met Derrick Henry.

The 2 have been attending a highschool soccer camp in Oregon in July 2012. Everybody was attempting to persuade Elliott that the towering Henry was a working again.

“That is a defensive lineman,” Elliott stated with fun.

Greater than a decade later, the 6-foot, 228-pound Elliott and 6-foot-2, 247-pound Henry will cross paths once more. This time, Henry and the Baltimore Ravens (0-2) go to Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys (1-1) on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as each are closing in on a uncommon milestone for working backs: 10,000 profession speeding yards.

Henry is 368 yards away from the mark, and Elliott, who has returned to the Cowboys’ backfield, is 1,040 yards shy. By way of Week 2, Henry is averaging 65 yards per recreation, whereas Elliott is averaging 28.

There have been 31 gamers who’ve eclipsed 10,000 yards speeding — from all-time chief Emmitt Smith at 18,355 to Ricky Williams at 10,009 — however it’s been seven seasons since a working again has reached the milestone. The final working again to surpass 10,000 yards speeding was Marshawn Lynch in December 2017 with the Raiders.

“That is one thing that I look again on as a child watching all the good backs,” Henry stated. “These are guys I regarded as much as and I needed to be someday. For me to be this near that milestone, I am simply grateful and blessed.”

Henry and Elliott first confronted off within the 2014 season Faculty Soccer Playoff. Ohio State’s Elliott rushed for 230 yards in a 42-35 win over Alabama, whereas Henry had 95 yards. The 2 entered the league on the similar time, as the primary two working backs chosen within the 2016 draft. Elliott was the No. 4 general choose and Henry was taken within the second spherical with the forty fifth general choose.

Since then, they’ve performed one another as soon as: A 28-14 Tennessee Titans win over the Cowboys in Week 9 of the 2018 season.

Henry and Elliott share an analogous working fashion, a mix of energy, tenacity and breakaway velocity.

Their roads to 10,000 yards have been totally different. Elliott was a direct star, main the NFL in speeding in two of his first three seasons. Henry was a backup his first two seasons and did not have a season with 1,000 yards speeding till his third 12 months.

Now, the roles have been reversed. Henry, 30, has been a Professional Bowl choice 3 times since 2020 earlier than shifting over to the Ravens for a two-year, $16 million deal which makes him one of many highest-paid working backs within the NFL. Elliott, 29, got here again to Dallas on a one-year, $1.625 assured deal to contribute to its working again by committee method.

What has not modified through the years is the mutual respect they’ve for one another.

“[Henry is] simply form of a man I’ve admired alongside this entire journey,” Elliott stated. “I imply we have been in the identical recruiting class, in order that’s a man that is all the time been round. For us to each be so profitable in our careers and be in the identical class, it is simply fairly cool.”

HENRY’S CAREER TURNING level got here in essentially the most precarious of moments.

It was December 2018 and the Titans lined up at their very own 1-yard line. Then-offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur referred to as a quarterback sneak to attempt to give Tennessee extra respiratory room in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars, however he additionally gave quarterback Marcus Mariota the choice to audible and hand the ball off to Henry.

“There was an open A spot, and I am going to always remember, I am like, ‘We’ll run the quarterback sneak,'” LaFleur, now the Green Bay Packers‘ head coach, stated just lately. “[Mariota] handed the ball off, and the preliminary thought was, ‘What are we doing?'”

Henry rapidly discovered some room on the left facet, stiff-armed three Jaguars out of his means alongside the sideline and charged into the tip zone for a 99-yard landing run.

ANGRY. RUN. CHAMPION. 🏆 @gmfb@KingHenry_2 99 YARDS TO THE HOUSE! pic.twitter.com/FCCLpgDVA0

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) December 7, 2018

Earlier than that monstrous 238-yard speeding efficiency, Henry had averaged 39.7 yards speeding in 43 video games, primarily backing up DeMarco Murray in his first two seasons. After that recreation, Henry averaged 102.6 yards speeding per recreation and totaled 7,794 yards speeding with the Titans — 1,977 greater than the subsequent participant, Cleveland Browns working again Nick Chubb, throughout that span. He’s considered one of eight gamers to ever rush for two,000 yards in a season (2,027 in 2020).

“It was loopy the transformation he made,” LaFleur stated. “That was actually the 12 months that form of propelled him into who he’s at the moment. I’ve received numerous respect for the man when it comes to simply his mindset and the resiliency he confirmed.”

Henry all the time smiles when put on and tear is introduced up. He understands the query as a result of he has led the NFL in carries for 4 of the previous 5 seasons. However Henry remembers his first two seasons when he totaled 286 carries.

He acknowledged there was “a little bit frustration” when Elliott was main the NFL in speeding as a rookie and Henry by no means gained greater than 65 yards in a recreation throughout his first season.

“Ezekiel hit the bottom working. Mine took a short time, however I really feel prefer it benefited me in the long term,” Henry stated. “It gave me a little bit bit extra years on my legs and I used to be grateful for that.”

With Elliott and Henry nearing the ten,000-yard mark, Henry is the one sprinting towards it. He’s additionally properly conscious that it is in sight. Earlier than this season, Henry was requested what number of speeding yards he wanted to succeed in 10,000 for his profession. “I believe I am like 500 yards away,” stated Henry, who wanted 485 yards at the moment.

Henry has proven no indicators of letting up as he closes in on that achievement. Over the earlier 5 seasons, he tops the NFL in speeding yards (6,115), runs over 10 yards (139) and touches reaching not less than 20 miles per hour (22).

“Derrick’s form of a unicorn, to be sincere, [with] his mixture of velocity, energy [and] sturdiness,” Ravens basic supervisor Eric DeCosta stated. “He is thrived in several programs and achieved various things. He is received wherever he is been, and people sorts of fellows are uncommon.”

WHEN HE WAS drafted, Elliott had short-, medium- and long-term targets.

“The way in which I assault the sport is I am enjoying to get championships and a gold [Hall of Fame] jacket,” Elliott stated just a few days earlier than the 2024 season.

Reaching 10,000 yards was one other long-term purpose.

“It is one thing I thought of once I was a rookie, and so simply to see it come to fruition — I imply 10,000 yards, that is a giant milestone,” Elliott stated. “Not many guys have achieved it, and so it is undoubtedly a blessing.”

Elliott started the season ranked fortieth in NFL historical past.

“I did not know that. That form of gave me chills, however it’s only a privilege,” Elliott stated, wanting on the hairs on his arm as he stated it. “Did not do it on my own. It took each single O-lineman that blocked for me. I could not go for 1,000 yards on my own.”

Elliott’s path to 10,000 yards began properly. He led the NFL in speeding as a rookie in 2016 with 1,631 yards. He did the identical in 2018 with 1,434 yards. After his fourth season, he was greater than midway to 10,000 yards with 5,405 yards.

In his subsequent 4 seasons, Elliott gained 3,499 yards, as his speeding totals dipped from 1,002 in 2021 and 876 in 2022 with the Cowboys to 642 yards final season with the New England Patriots. In 2021 and 2022, he cut up time with Tony Pollard. Whereas he nonetheless had nearly all of carries, Pollard’s explosiveness led to him getting extra work. Elliott additionally handled a sprained PCL in 2021 and a knee damage in 2022 that compelled him to put on a brace that restricted his motion.

Elliott’s return to Dallas has been hailed by his teammates nearly as a lot for what he brings to the locker room as he does on the sphere. All-Professional proper guard Zack Martin stated he can nonetheless inform defenders do not wish to sort out Elliott because it will get late in video games.

“Numerous instances these actually good backs do not hold round very lengthy, proper?” Martin stated. “They’ve a pair good years, and 10,000 yards simply reveals not solely the dominance on the place however the longevity on the place.”

Elliott has 30 100-yard video games within the common season and two extra within the playoffs. However his final 100-yard recreation got here on Oct. 10, 2021, with 21 carries for 110 yards in opposition to the New York Giants. This season, working as part of a committee of working backs, together with Rico Dowdle, Elliott has 56 yards via two video games. He was the third Cowboys working again to get a carry in opposition to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday and performed 28 snaps.

Elliott does not have a recreation or a run that sticks with him as he approaches 10,000 yards, since he hopes his favourite one remains to be to return.

“I imply, most likely going to be that run once I eclipse 10,000,” Elliott stated. “Hopefully I can get that achieved this season.”

WHO WILL BE the subsequent working again to succeed in 10,000 yards?

After Henry and Elliott, 9 different working backs have topped not less than 5,000 yards, however that features Latavius Murray, 34, and Melvin Gordon III, 31, who’re free brokers.

Josh Jacobs, two video games into his first season with the Packers, may need the very best likelihood of turning into the subsequent 10,000-yard working again. In 5 seasons with the Raiders, he ran for five,545 yards.

The Browns’ Chubb (6,511 yards) and Philadelphia Eagles‘ Saquon Barkley (5,415 yards) have performed six seasons, however each have battled accidents. The Saints’ Alvin Kamara (6,027 yards) is in his seventh season and off to a quick begin with 198 yards in two video games. The San Francisco 49ers‘ Christian McCaffrey (6,185 yards) may be extra of a twin menace in comparison with a between-the-tackles working again.

McCaffrey, the Minnesota Vikings‘ Aaron Jones (6,066 yards), Cowboys follow squad possibility Dalvin Cook (6,207) and Texans’ Joe Mixon (6,596) are of their eighth seasons.

Elliott and Henry are of their ninth, pushing the envelope of a working again’s sturdiness.

“It may be a little bit powerful with numerous offenses switching to working again by committee, however I believe there’ll all the time — perhaps not all the time — however I believe there’ll finally be one other workhorse again,” Elliott stated. “There’s numerous good soccer gamers on the market. I believe it might be more durable, however somebody will get it achieved.”

When requested who, Henry did not hesitate.

“Nick Chubb, for certain,” he stated. “He is a beast. He is a distinct breed. Aside from myself, that is most likely considered one of my favourite backs.”

Regardless of working backs being de-emphasized in at the moment’s recreation, Henry does not see this milestone being an even bigger problem for gamers going ahead.

“I really feel like in the event you received a man, a bell cow that may run the ball, why not let him run it?” Henry stated. “If he is efficient and he is a staple of the offense with the passing recreation, why not simply be efficient with each? “Though we all know it is the passing league, I really feel like the fellows which are constant and play at a excessive stage each week, groups will feed them and allow them to go do their factor.”

ESPN reporter Rob Demovsky contributed to this story.