New England Patriots hit with practice news they don’t want to hear ahead of Week 1 Super Bowl rematch with Seattle Seahawks
The New England Patriots were without second-year RB Treveyon Henderson during their first practice of the week ahead of their Super Bowl LX rematch against the Seattle Seahawks.
The New England Patriots started off the practice week on the wrong foot ahead of their 2026 NFL season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.
Treyveon Henderson, an Ironman during his rookie season in 2025, was a non-participant in Sunday’s practice session, casting doubt on his availability for Wednesday night’s kickoff. Henderson suffered an ankle injury in late August and has not practiced for New England since Aug. 24.
With the season opener against Seattle coming up at 8:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Henderson’s status is in question for what seems to be the first time in his young career. He played in every single game during his rookie campaign, including throughout the postseason. Henderson logged 180 carries for 911 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025.
Rhamondre Stevenson and the New England Patriots’ depth behind Henderson
Rhamondre Stevenson is still on the roster. ESPN’s Mike Reiss says he would be the clear-cut No. 1 running back if Henderson is unable to play. Beyond Stevenson, though, the Patriots only have one other running back on the 53-man roster: second-year back Corey Kiner, who was acquired from the Arizona Cardinals this offseason.
New England could elevate Lan Larison or Hassan Haskins from the practice squad if Henderson is unable to go on Wednesday. The depth issue at running back theoretically shouldn’t be a problem, as Stevenson is more than capable of handling the workload. However, the questions behind Stevenson are ones that could get the Patriots into trouble if more injuries were to occur.
Long odds already for New England in Week 1
This simply is not what New England needs to start the season. The Patriots are already facing long odds against Seattle, who defeated them in last year’s Super Bowl. Wednesday’s game doubles as the Seahawks’ banner-raising ceremony, adding another layer of difficulty to an already tough matchup. There’s also the cloud hanging over coach Mike Vrabel’s head related to the offseason Dianna Russini scandal.
We don’t yet know whether Henderson will have a shot to play. He will likely need to participate in practice on Monday and Tuesday, or at least on Tuesday, to have a realistic chance of suiting up for the opener. However, the second-year player is expected to be a big part of the team’s plans this year. An injury that limits or sidelines him to start the season is going to make that more difficult.
