The New England Patriots have a massive TreVeyon Henderson problem, and it’s not just about bad luck. The second-year running back was largely invisible during Thursday’s tough 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears, failing to make any real impact when his team desperately needed it. This isn’t the dynamic home-run threat New England was hoping for when they drafted him in 2025, and it showed big time against Chicago.
Where’s the Trust? Where’s the Production?
Henderson was barely a blip on the radar in the game plan. He only played a measly 13 snaps, gaining just nine yards on three carries. Yeah, you read that right, nine yards. While Rhamondre Stevenson snagged a 48-yard checkdown for a score, Henderson managed only two catches for 14 yards himself. When your coaching staff isn’t trusting you to move the chains, that’s a huge red flag. The team’s ground game gained a season-low 70 total yards, and you bet that hurt their ability to sustain drives and stay on the field. This wasn’t some fluke. The lack of involvement clearly screams that the coaching staff just doesn’t have confidence in him.
“He Needs to Sit Down and Watch Kenneth Walker”
Former Patriots great Troy Brown didn’t hold back after the game, and honestly, can you blame him? On the Patriots.com postgame show, Brown bluntly said Henderson struggles with vision and patience on the field. “He needs to sit down and watch Kenneth Walker, he really does,” Brown declared, according to Boston.com. That’s a brutal truth bomb from a legend who knows a thing or two about making plays. Henderson might flash some speed, but he’s way too boom-or-bust to be reliable. He’s looking more like a guy who strikes out too often than a consistent threat, missing holes or making boneheaded decisions that just negate his own carries. Coach Mike Vrabel even admitted the rushing game wasn’t good enough on Thursday, saying, “Offensive productivity is we didn’t run the ball well enough, but we moved it however we needed to move it, which sometimes you’re going to have days like that.” But this wasn’t just a “day like that.” This is a pattern of squandered opportunities, and Henderson is right at the heart of it.
The Clock is Ticking for the 4-3 Patriots
The Patriots, sitting at a lukewarm 4-3, are desperately trying to find their identity. They need more than just raw speed in the backfield. They need a guy who can consistently find the line and grind out yards. Henderson’s college profile promised reliability, but that simply hasn’t shown up in the NFL yet. Relying on a running back who is an afterthought in the game plan is a recipe for disaster, and it’s certainly not how you climb the standings. Some fans are hoping he’ll turn into a power hitter with a high strikeout rate, but that’s a risky bet. The Bears defense didn’t even have to account for him because he was a non-factor. Safety Craig Woodson said the team is “on to the next, man,” according to the Boston Herald. But you know what? “On to the next” isn’t going to fix these gaping holes in the run game if Henderson’s situation stays the same. The numbers from Thursday don’t lie: he’s just not ready to lead the charge. They need to figure this out, fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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