Henderson Misses Another Practice Before Week 1

TreVeyon Henderson missed another Patriots practice on Sunday, and Week 1 is now three days away. The second-year running back has not practiced since he hurt his ankle on Aug. 24, per Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub and Sporting News.

Mike Vrabel had hinted Saturday that Henderson could return to the field. He did not. Christian Barmore and Ben Brown were also absent Sunday as New England prepares for Wednesday night at Seattle. The first injury report of the season was still pending when practice wrapped, but the empty practice field is the update that matters.

Ankle clock into kickoff

Henderson played every regular-season and playoff game as a rookie in 2025 and gave the Patriots a home-run threat next to Rhamondre Stevenson. The ankle has wiped that out of camp's final stretch. Three days is not a lot of runway to get a running back sharp for a road opener, even if he is cleared before kickoff.

New England has already practiced its early-down plan without him and worked full pads Saturday without him in the mix. Drake Maye and the offense have been living in a world where Stevenson and the next man up carry the load. That is not the training-camp vision. It is the Week 1 reality unless something changes fast. A Stevenson-Henderson tandem with Reggie Gilliam at fullback looked sharp through camp. The ankle turned that into a contingency plan overnight.

Plan B is already on the roster

If Henderson cannot go, ESPN's Mike Reiss has Stevenson as the clear lead back. Corey Kiner is the only other running back on the 53. The Patriots would almost certainly elevate either Hassan Haskins or Lan Larison from the practice squad for the opener.

Haskins brings more NFL snaps (44 games). Larison knows Josh McDaniels' protection calls better, which matters when the ball is in Maye's hands and Seattle is bringing pressure. Both factor on special teams, especially punt protection, an area New England has hammered all summer. Either way, Stevenson absorbs the bulk if Henderson is sidelined, with Kiner and the elevated back spelling him.

Kickoff is Wednesday, Sep. 9 at Lumen Field against the Seahawks in a Super Bowl rematch. Sunday was another day Henderson stayed inside. The Patriots are planning like that might stick through the opener, and the backfield math is already drawn up without him.