Derrick Henry has struggled with ball security early in 2025, recording three fumbles in successive games that swung tight losses for his team.
The Tennessee veteran’s sudden turnover plague has become impossible to ignore. Three fumbles through the opening weeks sit at the top of the league ledger. Those giveaways helped decide narrow defeats in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills and again in Week 3 versus the Detroit Lions.
All three turnovers came in consecutive games, a cadence that raises questions beyond mere bad luck. One of the fumbles arrived at a pressure-packed moment against Buffalo, when his team clung to a one-score lead with roughly 3:10 left on the clock. The timing could not have been worse.
For a runner who built a reputation on punishment, balance and relentless forward momentum, these missteps feel out of character. Henry still imposes himself between the tackles. He still delivers the punishing yards defenses dread. But the ball has slipped free far too often in the wrong moments.
Coaches and coordinators will stare hard at technique. Grip, hand placement and ball-wrapping fundamentals return to the agenda. On film, defenders are clearly targeting the football on contact. That invited focus compounds the problem. When opponents try to punch the ball free, even veteran backs can be vulnerable.
Beyond mechanics, the mental side matters. Momentum in tight games swings on small margins. Turnovers alter play-calling and field position instantly. They also reshuffle confidence in the room. When a running back coughs the ball up in consecutive weeks, quarterbacks and offensive schemers re-evaluate risks and tendencies.
Fantasy managers and roster-builders took notice as well. A bell-cow back with turnovers becomes a different proposition for owners. The production might stay largely intact, but the disaster potential grows. That alters game theory in rostering and lineup decisions until the issue is clearly fixed.
Still, the sample size remains small. Three fumbles early in the season do not define a career. Yet the clustering of those turnovers matters. Patterns in the first month often prompt swift correction. Teams cannot afford habit to harden when the margin for error narrows on the scoreboard.
Practical fixes are straightforward, if not always simple. Repetition in drills. Extra work with ball-security devices. Adjustments in how the ball is secured when lowering the shoulder and bracing for contact. The medical and conditioning staff can help, too, by managing any fatigue that might loosen grip under repeated hits.
The upcoming slate gives Henry and his team a clear path to answer critics. Clean carries and situational awareness will quiet the noise. If he can finish a string of games without a turnover, the conversation will shift back to his yards and power rather than his mistakes. Until then, every touch will draw extra scrutiny from opposing defenders and coaches alike.