Veteran running back Dion Lewis made the decision this offseason in free agency to depart from the New England Patriots to sign with the Tennessee Titans. It has put him on his fifth different team heading into his eighth season in the league.
Lewis is set to join the backfield in Tennessee alongside an emerging star running back in Derrick Henry. During a recent interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio, the 27-year-old stated he believes that he and Henry will form a highly formidable duo next season and possibly beyond that.
“I think they’re going to use both of us,” Lewis said. “Derrick’s a great back and I’m happy to be a part of the backfield with him, so I think we can form a pretty good one-two punch. But at this time of year, just learning a new system. … Whatever my role is, I’m just going to work as hard as I can to carve myself a pretty good role on this team.”
The addition of Lewis could be a major upgrade to the running game that already features Henry. He is coming off his most productive season where he rushed for a career-high 896 yards and six touchdowns along with hauling in 32 catches for 214 receiving yards and three touchdowns while playing in all 16 regular season games for the first time in his career. Lewis has proven to be a dual-threat out of the backfield in both the running and passing game.
Through his first two seasons, Henry has shown flashes of promise with his big-play ability as both a receiver out of the backfield or a runner. Despite having a split-carry duty last season with former Pro Bowler DeMarco Murray, he posted a career-best 744 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
The Titans have a pair of young running backs that they can lean on for reliable production that could be big assets in helping quarterback Marcus Mariota bounce back in 2018. The fact that Lewis is ready to embrace a secondary role to Henry may help the two become a highly effective duo that could lead the team back to a second straight playoff appearance and possibly further.
Follow Us
Subscribe