Why Adrian Peterson believes Tennessee Titans' running back by committee approach will change

Since Derrick Henry’s injury, the Tennessee Titans have leaned on a committee approach in the backfield. 

Adrian Peterson believes it’s “getting to that point” where things could change.

“I think this week will be a good week to see how things unfold with that,” Peterson said Friday.

Since Week 9, Jeremy McNichols leads the Titans’ running backs with 42 offensive snaps, with Peterson and D’Onta Foreman not far behind at 39 and 33, respectively. But McNichols has been ruled out for the Titans (8-2) Sunday against the Texans (1-8) with a concussion. Tennessee also has Dontrell Hilliard on the practice squad. 

Though Peterson has edged him in snaps, Foreman has been the better running back since Henry went down. He had 29 yards on five carries against the Rams (5.8 yards/carry), and had a 39-yard catch and run last week against the Saints. He’s posted 16 carries for 59 yards this season. 

Peterson has 18 carries for 42 yards and a touchdown in two games with the Titans. 

“I know we’re both putting our best foot forward, helping each other when we can,” Peterson said of Foreman. “Obviously, at some point, it’s going to be one guy taking the majority of the snaps.”

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Peterson said he won’t take for granted the struggling Texans, whose run defense ranks second to last in the NFL. 

“Sometimes, some teams can get a little lackadaisical when you come up against a team against the Texans," Peterson said. "But watching them on the film, you see a lot of guys that are still locked in and fighting to have something to prove. It’s going to be all about us just staying locked in offensively in all phases and handling business.”

In his 15th season and with numerous accolades, the 36-year-old Peterson has appreciated how Titans running backs coach Tony Dews has kept him on his toes since joining the team. 

“You can always learn something, especially in this offense,” Peterson said. “I’ve been learning a lot and coach Tony has done a great job of being detailed, over-detailed with things. Really pressing the issue about things that I’ve been doing for 14 years, but when you haven’t been out there, you kind of get a little loose with the ball. So just simple things like that: Keeping the ball high, covering (the ball) up. He’s always kind of pressing and reminding you of those little things. I’m appreciative of what he’s done for me thus far.

"Like he always says, you can continue to learn, no matter how old you are, no matter how long you’ve been around the league.”

Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at barthur@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur.