NASHVILLE - Derrick Henry might be running out of time with the Tennessee Titans.
The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner and former University of Alabama standout talked a month ago about needing to run better and be more physical. Three games later, nothing much has changed - for now. Henry is still the Titans' starting running back, though Dion Lewis is making a case for that spot.
It's Lewis who is coming off the best rushing game this season by a Titans running back. He totaled 91 yards on 13 carries during a 20-19 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in London on Oct. 21, when Henry had 33 yards on 12 carries.
For the season, Henry has 273 yards on 84 carries and Lewis 277 on 73. Each has rushed for one touchdown.
"We all know, you guys all know, if you're inconsistent in this league, they'll find somebody to replace you," Henry said. "So I feel like the biggest thing is just being consistent during everything that I do. Being efficient, finishing runs, being physical, running hard. Like I said, I stood in front of y'all and said all those things, but I don't feel like I've done those things."
Henry is in his third season after being the Titans' third pick in the 2016 draft. Lewis is the free agent that general manager Jon Robinson signed to a four-year deal in march.
The Titans had their open date last week, and Henry studied each of his 84 carries this season and evaluated himself. He found plenty he can do better by simply running like the 6-foot-3, 247-pound athlete he is. Henry's average of 3.3 yards per carry is his worst as a pro. Lewis, though, has taken advantage of the opportunities he has been given.
The Titans (3-4) need an improved running game after losing three straight games, and their rushing average of 107.9 yards per game this season ranks 19th in the NFL. They had a season-high 164 rushing yards against the Chargers, but Lewis did the heavy lifting on the ground and also finished with 155 yards from scrimmage, his best total as an NFL player.
Asked about Henry, Titans coach Mike Vrabel said the team has to find ways to clean up mistakes across the offense that have cost it yards, including finishing runs better.
"There are times if you look at yourself and say, 'Man, I could have done a better job,' I think that's what Derrick is doing," Vrabel said. "I appreciate that mentality from him. He can do more, and we all can do more."
Tennessee signed fullback Jalston Fowler this past Monday to add another blocker to the offensive mix. The Titans play at Dallas (3-4) on Monday night and know the Cowboys will be running the ball with Ezekiel Elliott, who is the NFL's second-leading rusher this season, with 619 yards on the ground. That makes getting the running game working better crucial for the Titans against a Dallas defense ranked third in fewest yards allowed and ninth against the run, with the Cowboys having allowed an average of 96.3 rushing yards per game.
Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur said his team's coaches and players still have plenty of confidence in Henry.
But Henry has to make the most of his opportunities with the ball.
"He's a big back, and anytime you're a big back, you want to make sure you're finishing runs," LaFleur said. "He's done a pretty good job of that. We've just got to get him going. We've got to get him going, and I think it's a matter of time before we're able to do it. But really it takes everybody. It's not just Derrick. It takes all 11."