TreVeyon Henderson did not participate in the New England Patriots’ first official Week 1 practice report because of an ankle injury, putting the second-year running back’s availability in legitimate doubt three days before the season opener at Seattle.
The Patriots listed Henderson as a non-participant Sunday along with defensive tackle Christian Barmore and offensive lineman Ben Brown. The designation is the clearest official update yet on an ankle issue that has kept Henderson out of practice since Aug. 24.
FSN had already been tracking the injury in its earlier report on how Henderson’s ankle issue put the Patriots backfield under the microscope. Sunday’s development moves the story forward: the concern is no longer based only on an extended practice absence. Henderson is now formally on the Week 1 injury report as a non-participant.
New England visits Seattle on Wednesday night. FSN’s Patriots team hub tracks the roster and schedule, while the Patriots-Seahawks Game Center has the Week 1 matchup information.
Henderson’s absence is more meaningful because the clock is short
An early-week missed practice does not automatically mean a player will be unavailable. The issue here is the combination of timing and trend. Henderson has not been practicing for roughly two weeks, and the opener is Wednesday rather than the normal Sunday schedule.
That leaves New England with very little runway to show that he can return, absorb contact and handle the role the offense had planned for him. The Patriots are expected to issue additional reports before the game, with the final status designation providing the most useful indicator of whether he has a realistic chance to play.
Until then, it is important not to overstate the situation. Henderson has not been ruled out. But a player who has missed extended practice time and is still listed as a non-participant on the first official report is not in the same position as a veteran simply receiving a maintenance day.
Rhamondre Stevenson becomes the stable center of the backfield
Even with a healthy Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson was expected to remain heavily involved. ESPN reported that Stevenson was the clear starter entering the opener and noted that he played 46 snaps in last season’s opener compared with 25 for Henderson.
Stevenson’s value to the Patriots goes beyond carries. Coach Mike Vrabel has repeatedly emphasized his pass protection, a trait that matters in any game but becomes even more valuable in a loud road environment where communication and pressure identification are tested.
If Henderson cannot play, Stevenson would be the obvious candidate for a larger share of the rushing and passing-down workload. That does not necessarily mean New England would ask him to handle every backfield role, because the club has spent the summer building a rotation and has other options available.
The depth behind Stevenson is where the injury creates real pressure
The only other running back on the 53-man roster is Corey Kiner, whom New England acquired from Arizona on Aug. 28. ESPN noted that Kiner entered the week with only four NFL games and 30 offensive snaps of experience.
That is a difficult profile to expand dramatically on short notice, especially on the road against the defending champion Seahawks. Kiner can still have a role, but the Patriots may prefer to supplement the room rather than simply hand him every snap that would have gone to Henderson.
Practice-squad backs Lan Larison and Hassan Haskins are the most obvious elevation candidates. Larison has more background in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ system, while Haskins has considerably more NFL game experience. Both also have special-teams utility, which can influence gameday roster decisions.
The Patriots do not have to make that choice until closer to kickoff, but Henderson’s status could force the issue.
Why Henderson matters even as the No. 2 back
Henderson was one of the most explosive elements in New England’s offense as a rookie. He finished the 2025 regular season with 911 rushing yards on 180 carries, a 5.1-yard average and nine rushing touchdowns. He also added nine receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown.
ESPN noted that Henderson became the first player in Patriots history to record four 50-yard runs or rushing touchdowns in a single season. That big-play ability changes how defenses have to pursue the run game and gives New England a different speed profile from Stevenson.
So the issue is not simply whether the Patriots have enough bodies at running back. They do. The question is whether they can replace Henderson’s ability to create explosive plays if the ankle keeps him out.
What the official injury report changes
Before Sunday, the story was a monitoring situation. Henderson had missed practice, but the regular-season reporting structure had not yet started. The official non-participation designation makes the uncertainty more concrete.
It also provides a baseline for the next report. If Henderson remains out, the probability of him playing will continue to fall. If he returns on a limited basis, the conversation shifts toward how much work he could realistically handle after the layoff.
The Patriots have no incentive to reveal more than required, and the final designation will still leave room for a game-day decision. But the daily progression now matters.
What comes next for Henderson and the Patriots
New England’s next practice report will be the most important update. A return to any level of participation would be positive. Another non-participation would keep the pressure on the Patriots to prepare a Stevenson-led backfield with Kiner and a likely practice-squad elevation behind him.
The larger point is simple: Henderson is not officially out, but his Week 1 status is now a real game-plan variable rather than a minor preseason footnote. With Seattle only days away, the Patriots need clarity quickly.