The New England Patriots will open their 2026 NFL campaign against the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday night, but head coach Mike Vrabel’s team will head into the Super Bowl rematch without a couple of key depth options.
He did not participate in any practices leading up to Wednesday’s game. With TreVeyon Henderson unavailable, New England will have to adjust its offensive approach. His absence could take away some of the explosiveness from the Patriots’ running game, placing greater pressure on the passing attack to create big plays. Fortunately for New England, quarterback Drake Maye will lead the offense. However, the bigger concern is that the Patriots could become too reliant on the passing game while playing in one of the NFL’s most challenging road environments. Corey Kiner could serve as his primary backup, while the Patriots may also consider elevating Lan Larison or Hassan Haskins from the practice squad.
Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson will not suit up for New England’s Week 1 matchup after suffering an ankle injury during the preseason. His absence comes after an impressive rookie season in which he rushed for 911 yards and nine touchdowns on 180 carries, emerging as one of the league’s more productive young running backs. The early Week 1 game could provide Henderson with some additional recovery time, as the Patriots will have more than a week before their next contest, potentially improving his chances of returning in Week 2.
