The NFL season opener is now under a week away, and the New England Patriots still don’t have one of their most important offensive players back on the practice field.
Running back TreVeyon Henderson was not present for the media-access portion of Thursday’s practice, continuing a concerning stretch of missed work ahead of New England’s Super Bowl rematch with the Seattle Seahawks.
Henderson has now gone without practicing since Aug. 24, when he suffered the ankle injury during practice. While the Patriots have indicated that the injury isn’t considered serious, the timing is becoming increasingly important.
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Henderson has missed valuable preparation time
The second-year running back was initially believed to be dealing with a minor lower-right ankle issue, and a report from the Boston Globe indicated that his absence could have been precautionary. He was also reportedly walking without a limp, which provided some optimism about his chances of being ready for Week 1.
But Henderson still hasn’t returned to practice.
That is becoming a bigger issue with the opener approaching quickly. According to Mike Reiss, the Patriots have three practices remaining after Thursday before they travel to Seattle for Wednesday night’s season opener.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Henderson will miss the game, but he is running out of opportunities to get meaningful work in before the opener.
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The Patriots need Henderson healthy
Henderson is expected to have an important role in New England’s offense this season alongside Rhamondre Stevenson.
As a rookie in 2025, Henderson rushed for 911 yards and nine touchdowns on 180 carries while adding 35 receptions for 221 yards and another touchdown. His explosive ability gives the Patriots another weapon alongside quarterback Drake Maye.
New England is preparing for a particularly difficult opening matchup against Seattle, the team that defeated the Patriots in Super Bowl LX. The Seahawks won that game 29-13, making Wednesday’s opener an immediate opportunity for New England to respond.
For now, Henderson’s status remains uncertain.
If he can return to practice over the weekend, there should still be a path toward playing in Seattle. But if he continues to miss practice into next week, the Patriots may have to prepare for their season opener without one of their most explosive offensive weapons.
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