The New England Patriots are going to be down one of their key offensive playmakers as they open the 2026 NFL season against the Seattle Seahawks.
Running back TreVeyon Henderson will not play in the Wednesday, Sept. 9, season opener as he deals with an ankle injury.
Henderson originally suffered the ankle injury in practice on Aug. 24 after slipping during a drill. He hasn't returned to the field since and was listed as a non-participant at each of New England's final three practices ahead of their matchup against Seattle.
Henderson was expected to be a key part of New England's one-two punch at running back alongside Rhamondre Stevenson. The 23-year-old back generated 1,132 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie while handling 215 touches.
He finished third in the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award voting because of his strong performance.
Here's more to know about Henderson's injury and when Patriots fans and fantasy football managers may see him return to the field.
Is TreVeyon Henderson playing Week 1?
Henderson will not play for the Patriots in their Week 1 game against the Seahawks. He was ruled out on the team's final injury report, which was released on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Henderson did not practice in the lead-up to the Patriots vs. Seahawks matchup and was listed as a non-participant at each of the team's three sessions from Monday to Wednesday.
TreVeyon Henderson injury update
Henderson is dealing with an ankle injury that he suffered in practice on Aug. 24. He missed New England's final preseason game against the Cleveland Browns and his status for Week 1 was viewed as uncertain.
Henderson has yet to practice since the initial injury occurred. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel praised Henderson's recovery efforts in a recent news conference but did not provide a concrete update on whether he would play in Week 1.
"We'll see how he feels today. We'll see if he can do anything," Vrabel said on Monday, Sept. 7, when referencing the second-year running back. "He's been working extremely hard to come back, and we'll see where that goes here today. We do have a few more days before, but we'll see what he's able to do today."
Vrabel did not hold a news conference Tuesday and, thus, did not provide any additional update on Henderson's status.
When will TreVeyon Henderson return?
The Patriots have not provided a concrete update about Henderson's potential return to the lineup. The Patriots play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2 on Sunday, Sept. 20, giving the Ohio State product 11 extra days to recover for that contest.
Who is TreVeyon Henderson's backup?
Henderson is technically listed as the No. 2 running back on the Patriots' depth chart behind Stevenson. That makes the team's third-string running back, Corey Kiner, Henderson's backup.
That said, Stevenson would be expected to handle a lion's share of the work with Henderson out of the lineup. Kiner was only acquired from the Arizona Cardinals in a trade on Aug. 29, so he has only had a couple of weeks to ingratiate himself into Josh McDaniels' offense.
Patriots RB depth chart
The Patriots have three running backs on their 53-man roster to open the season. Below is a look at the pecking order within the unit:
- Rhamondre Stevenson
- TreVeyon Henderson (injured)
- Corey Kiner
The Patriots also have second-year back Lan Larison and veteran Hassan Haskins on the practice squad. One is expected to be called up for Wednesday's game with Henderson out of action and Kiner being new to the team.
Larison, a second-year player who went undrafted out of UC Davis, would likely get the nod if the Patriots value experience in their offensive system for the potential backup role behind Stevenson.
Haskins, who was originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans when Vrabel was there and has played 44 NFL games and logged 76 carries, would get the call-up if the Patriots want to emphasize overall experience behind Stevenson.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is TreVeyon Henderson playing Week 1? Latest injury update for Patriots RB
