Henderson has a healthy perspective on new role

IRVINE >> Darrell Henderson will finally get his chance to be the Rams’ No. 1 running back because someone else got hurt.

But instead of a twinge of relief, Henderson says he felt only sympathy pain when he heard about Cam Akers’ Achilles tendon injury in mid-July.

He has been in Akers’ walking boot.

“I never want to see a player get hurt. Me, coming off two ankle surgeries, it was horrible (to hear),” said Henderson, whose 2019 and 2020 seasons ended with injuries. “When I heard that (about Akers), I immediately looked down at mine to make sure mine’s still good.”

Henderson was speaking Friday after practice at Rams training camp at UC Irvine, his first chat with reporters since Akers’ injury.

He sounded selfless in talking about his fallen teammate and about his own patience in the two years since the Rams drafted Henderson out of Memphis in the third round of the 2019 draft.

It seemed then that he was the chosen successor to Todd Gurley. But after releasing Gurley in early 2020, the Rams turned around and drafted Akers from Florida State in that year’s second round. By the end of the 2020 season, Akers was the leader of a Rams running back group that then included veteran Malcolm Brown, even if Akers took the regular-season team rushing title by only a 625-624 margin over Henderson.

Before Akers tore an Achilles in an offseason workout, it was generally accepted that his surge to 645 yards and four touchdowns rushing in his last seven regular-season and playoff games had established him as the Rams’ No. 1 back going into this year.

This, even though by some measures Henderson was the Rams’ leading back over the whole of last season.

He made 11 regular-season starts, to Akers’ five. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry, to Akers’ 4.3. His 81 yards rushing plus 40 receiving against the Eagles in Week 2 and 114 plus 6 against the Bills in Week 3 were the best back-to-back production by a Rams back since Gurley in 2018.

Did Henderson intend to beat out Akers in training camp?

“We don’t think like that here,” Henderson said Friday at UCI. “We’re all a big family. We’re all ready for our opportunity, but we don’t look at it that way, that it’s all about competition.

“I was competing to be a better me, that’s it.”

What might Henderson be thinking, especially with the possibility of a trade or signing for reinforcements?

Steven Jackson, the franchise’s all-time leading rusher (10,138 yards from 2004-12), gave his impression during a break from signing autographs at Rams camp.

“In this opportunity he has right now, he not only has something to prove to himself, but he can prove to the organization that ‘You don’t need to look any further. I’m here,’” Jackson said.

The selfless tone from Henderson, who will turn 24 on Aug. 19, might reflect a change Rams coach Sean McVay says he has seen in the running back.

“He’s really maturing,” said McVay, who sees the requisite ball-carrying, pass-catching and blocking skills in that 5-foot-8, 208-pound package. “In year three, you can feel a nice confidence in himself.”

The challenge might be to keep Henderson healthy after last year was chopped up by hamstring, quadriceps and ankle problems.

“I think he’s got the ability, there’s no doubt about,” said McVay, who, barring an acquisition, must choose a No. 2 back from the untested group of Xavier Jones, Raymond Calais and rookie Jake Funk.

“It’s really about figuring out what’s going to be, I don’t want to say pitch count, but the best way to utilize him and have the big picture in mind.”

In practice Friday, Henderson’s every successful run or reception drew cheers from fans at UCI who recognized the long hair that tickles down the “27” on his jersey and recognized his importance to the 2021 Rams.

Not since high school in Mississippi has Henderson been his team’s workhorse, since he split carries with other backs even at Memphis.

“At the next level it’s all about keeping running backs fresh,” Henderson said. “You get hit every play. You’ve got to be ready for it. You’ve got to prepare mentally.

“It’s on me, I’m ready for it.”