Another brutal hit for the New England Patriots offense, with running back TreVeyon Henderson now officially out for “multiple weeks” after being diagnosed with a high ankle sprain. Adam Schefter of ESPN dropped the news, confirming what many feared after Henderson couldn’t finish Sunday’s win against the Las Vegas Raiders. The team’s hoping for a return “sooner rather than later,” but let’s be real, a high ankle sprain is no joke.
The Brutal Blow That Sidelines a Key Player
This is a tough one, man. Henderson, just 23, got taken down from behind on an 11-yard jet sweep in the second quarter of that Raiders game. He stayed down, then limped off to the locker room. They announced him as questionable to return, but he never saw the field again. You just knew it wasn’t good. This kid was a second-round pick in 2025, and he put up some serious numbers in his rookie year, racking up a combined 1,241 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns in 21 games. This season, he’s carried the rock 42 times for 163 yards and a score, plus snagged two passes for an extra 22 yards. That kind of production is hard to replace, especially when you’re talking multiple weeks.
Who Steps Up Now?
So, with Henderson out, who’s gonna carry the load? In the Raiders game, the Patriots leaned on starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson and third-stringer Corey Kiner. And honestly, they did alright. Those two combined for 116 rushing yards on just 19 carries, averaging a solid 6.1 yards per pop and punching in a touchdown. That’s a strong showing, no doubt. But you gotta mention Kiner’s fumble on his very first touch of the game. Thankfully, it was New England’s only turnover in what turned into a dominant 45-17 victory, but still, you can’t have those kinds of mistakes. They need that backfield to be rock-solid, especially now.
What’s Next for the Patriots?
The Patriots are set to host the New York Jets this Sunday at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET. This is where Stevenson and Kiner really need to prove they can hold down the fort. Losing a talent like Henderson for multiple weeks hurts, but the team still has games to win. Can they maintain that rushing efficiency without him? Can Kiner clean up those fumbles? All eyes are on that backfield to see if they can keep that momentum going against the Jets. It’s gonna be a real test, no doubt about it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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