The New England Patriots played their first-team offense against the Minnesota Vikings, but they hardly used rookie TreVeyon Henderson. With presumed starter Rhamondre Stevenson battling a minor injury, overlooked veteran Antonio Gibson saw the majority of the snaps and recorded a few carries. Henderson only played two snaps on the opening drive and failed to catch his lone target from Drake Maye.
The roles were reversed on the second drive, as Henderson saw most of the action while Gibson came on in relief. The rookie made the most of this opportunity, converting a 3rd and 10 with an 11-yard carry before scoring the game’s first touchdown.
This seems to imply that TreVeyon Henderson will begin his career as a rotational player and could be the third option on this depth chart. This isn’t too surprising, as head coach Mike Vrabel is an old-school coach who historically wants his rookies to earn playing time. What is important is that Henderson came on the field in clear passing situations, which is consistent with how Vrabel used him last week.
At the risk of overreacting to one or two preseason drives, this usage seems to imply that Henderson is not one long-term Rhamondre Stevenson injury away from receiving a three-down workload. Perhaps he can earn a larger role as the season progresses, but if Stevenson’s injury lingers, Gibson and Henderson will likely split backfield opportunities fairly evenly.
Patriots Start Rhamondre Stevenson Over TreVeyon Henderson
The New England Patriots selected TreVeyon Henderson early in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Taken just ahead of wide receiver Luther Burden, the Ohio State product began his career on a high note. Splitting snaps with the first-team offense, Henderson finished the night with one carry for 18 yards while adding three receptions for 12 yards through the air.
While these numbers aren’t anything to write home about, it’s worth noting that he broke tackles and demonstrated an ability to make plays on his own. Of course, his biggest highlight came when he took the opening kickoff for a touchdown on his first professional snap.
Rhamondre Stevenson, meanwhile, originally joined New England as a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Originally beginning his career behind Damien Harris, the Oklahoma product broke out in 2022 when he recorded 1,040 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 210 attempts. Despite a disappointing 2023, the Patriots signed him to a four-year, $36 million contract in the 2024 offseason. He didn’t do much to justify it last year, as he struggled to hold on to the ball and lacked his previous athleticism.
Main Photo: Eric Canha – Imagn Images
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