Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry reached 21.29 mph on his way to the end zone on an 87-yard run in a 35-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
That was the second-fastest speed recorded by a ball-carrier during the fourth week of the NFL’s 2024 season.
The fastest belonged to Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy, whose roster weight is 82 fewer pounds than Henry’s 247. The holder of the NFL Scouting Combine 40-yard dash record, Worthy reached 21.46 mph on a 54-yard touchdown reception in the Chiefs’ 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Sunday night’s run was the 27th by Henry that reached 20 mph since Next Gen Stats began tracking speed in 2018. Only one player in the NFL has recorded more as a ball-carrier during that span than the former Alabama All-American – former West Alabama standout Tyreek Hill, with the Chiefs and Miami Dolphins. Hill has 73 instances of reaching 20 mph as a ball-carrier since 2018.
The fastest speed recorded by a ball-carrier in the NFL this season continues to belong to Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins. The former Clay-Chalkville High School star hit 21.89 mph on a 55-yard touchdown reception in a 29-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 8.
Players with Alabama football roots filled four of the top 12 positions on the NFL’s speed chart for Week 4.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (Auburn) ran 20.78 mph on a 58-yard carry and 20.33 mph on a 22-yard carry in a 24-20 loss to the Texans on Sunday. Bigby filled the eighth and 12th slots for ball-carrier speed.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (Alabama) had the No. 11 speed at 20.35 mph on a 70-yard touchdown reception in a 42-29 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night.
