The second spot on the NFL's list of single-season rushing leaders belongs to a guy D'Andre Swift gets to see every day. The guy gunning for the top spot will be opposite Swift on Sunday.
And Swift is rooting for Derrick Henry to get there, to break the record Eric Dickerson set in 1984 when he ran all over the NFL for 2,105 yards.
"I would love to see him do that, love to see him do that," Swift said Wednesday as the Lions prepare to take on Henry and the Titans. "Great back, I love watching him."
Henry is currently on pace for 1,884 yards, which would rank 8th all time. He's 573 yards shy of Dickerson. He'll need a couple monster performances in Tennessee's final three games to re-write the record books.
Wouldn't you know it, Henry gets a couple terrific matchups. The Lions rank 29th in the NFL in rushing defense, and the Texans, Tennessee's Week 17 opponent, rank 30th. The Titans face the Packers in between.
As much as Swift loves watching Henry run -- who doesn't? -- he said there's nothing Henry does that he would "try and implement in my game."
"We’re two different backs," he said.
No kidding. Swift is seven inches shorter and 35 pounds lighter. And while Henry does almost all of his work on the ground, one downhill run after another, Swift sees plenty of action through the air.
Henry has 297 carries this season, versus 29 targets. Swift has 77 carries and 44 targets. The rookie is hoping to end the season on a high note after returning last week following a three-game absence due to concussion-like symptoms.
"That’d be big. That’s what I’m trying to do, finish the season strong," said Swift. "Bring us into the offseason the right way. I love this team, I love the way we fight week in and week out. I think we’re going to complete the season the way we want to."
As for the second name on that list of rushing leaders, Adrian Peterson, who came within eight years of Dickerson's record in 2012, continues to be a resource for Swift. Most recently, the Hall of Famer helped boost Swift's spirits during his bouts with headaches and fatigue.
"It’s big, especially coming from him, first and foremost," Swift said. "He wants to see everybody in the room succeed, and that’s big coming from him."
Swift said he never got clarity on what exactly caused his brain injury. The Lions originally diagnosed it as a concussion, then deemed it an illness.
"I just know my head was hurting," said Swift.
Asked if the persistence of the symptoms ever scared him, Swift said, "No, I’m pretty strong mentally. I didn’t really worry about it too much."