According to a report from ESPN, TreVeyon Henderson suffered a high-ankle sprain in the second quarter of Sunday’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders and is expected to miss multiple weeks. The injury does not require surgery, and he will not be placed on injured reserve.
Immediate lineup and workload shifts
The Patriots will be without one of their top two running backs for the near term, creating an immediate shift in how New England handles its backfield. Over the last four games, Henderson had totaled 163 rushing yards and a touchdown on 42 carries, plus two catches for 22 yards, after missing the season opener with an ankle issue and returning in Week 2.
Those snaps and production had come in a split role with Rhamondre Stevenson. In Week 1, when Henderson was out, Stevenson had an 84.5% snap share; on Sunday against the Raiders, Stevenson logged 70.7% of the snaps and his share bumped up after Henderson exited the game. The split usage underlines how dependent the Patriots have become on a two-man rotation.
Who steps up: Stevenson and the depth chart
With Henderson sidelined for multiple weeks, the Patriots will lean more heavily on Rhamondre Stevenson. CBSSports projects Stevenson to assume a significant lead role during Henderson’s absence, with Corey Kiner expected to work as the No. 2 back and Lan Larison a candidate to be elevated from the practice squad for game days.
Stevenson’s workload in games without Henderson has already provided a template. He handled the bulk of snaps in Week 1 and absorbed more snaps on Sunday after Henderson exited, reflecting both his production role and the Patriots’ reliance on his pass-catching and blocking reliability in recent weeks.
Henderson burst onto the scene as a rookie with 1,132 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns last season, but during training camp he trailed Stevenson in snaps and opportunities. This season’s early pattern had the two backs splitting duties, with Stevenson consistently seen as the more dependable option in passing situations and protection schemes.
The team’s immediate approach will be dictated by game plan and available personnel: Stevenson’s snap share is likely to climb, Kiner is slated to take on a larger role behind him, and Larison could be worked into game rotations if roster moves are made to augment depth, CBSSports projects.
The injury does not require surgery and the team is not expected to place Henderson on injured reserve, which keeps a return timeline open; the report said he is expected to miss multiple weeks. In the meantime, Stevenson should be expected to take a significant lead role, with Kiner working as the No. 2 back and Larison potentially being elevated for game days.
Henderson’s absence is a clear test of the Patriots’ backfield continuity. For now, Rhamondre Stevenson figures to shoulder more of the load, with backup options beneath him prepared to pick up the slack while the team awaits Henderson’s return.
