The Patriots open Week 1 against the Seahawks with one of their most important offensive pieces already sidelined: running back TreVeyon Henderson has been ruled out with an ankle injury, according to Evan Lazar’s read on the updated injury report.
That absence puts even more weight on the rest of New England’s offense as it tries to get through Seattle in the season opener. Andrew Callahan’s preview points to Rhamondre Stevenson as the central figure in the Patriots’ ground game, writing that “Rhamondre Stevenson will be the heartbeat of the Patriots’ rushing attack tonight after the best training camp of his career.” The matchup also brings plenty of attention to Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel, who Callahan says will be trying to find a way to upset Seattle.
Several previews around the game land on the same basic theme: New England’s ability to hold up in the trenches. Mark Morse identifies the Patriots offensive line against the Seahawks defensive front as the deciding factor, while Alex Barth’s keys to the game focus on the key matchups and player roles that will shape the night. Dan Parr of NFL.com raises the same big question in his list of must-know storylines: have the Patriots solved their pass-protection woes?
The Patriots also made a major move off the field this week, signing Christian Gonzalez to a record-breaking contract extension. Lazar discussed the deal, and Ian Logue wrote that the extension will have Gonzalez anchoring the defense for years to come. Around the league, Albert Breer framed the deal as a win for both sides.
Gonzalez’s new contract has also fueled some predictions for the opener. Mike Kadlick of SI included the cornerback in one of his bold calls, saying Gonzalez will hold Jaxon Smith-Njigba to less than 100 receiving yards. Conor Ryan also pointed to Gonzalez in a broader set of 2026 bold predictions, including one that he sets a career-high in interceptions.
Elsewhere on the Patriots beat, Karen Guregian reported that Morgan Moses is taking on Stefon Diggs’ pregame role by giving the team an impassioned pep talk on the field after warmups. Guregian also wrote about Drake Maye as the “ultimate fixer” of the Patriots’ shortcomings, while Mike Reiss offered four reasons Maye could put together another MVP-like season, including another year in Josh McDaniels’ offense.
Reiss also spoke with Ann Michael Maye about her rising profile as Drake Maye’s star continues to climb. And on the running back side, Khari Thompson highlighted five things to know about Corey Kiner.
The local media landscape around the opener is packed with preview work, predictions, and broader season chatter. Chad Finn has Seattle winning 30-27 in his unconventional preview, while Matt Dolloff shared his picks, predictions and best bets for the season opener. Mark Morse also compared this year’s roster to the 2025 group.
On the national side, Frank Schwab previewed the Patriots trying to be more competitive in a Super Bowl rematch with Seattle. Mike Reiss and Brady Henderson reported that Henderson and Seahawks safety Okada were ruled out for the game. Kadlick also ranked Patriots-Seahawks third among all 16 Week 1 games.
Beyond tonight, there’s already a flood of league-wide discussion about 2026, from Bill Barnwell’s playoff field and Super Bowl prediction - which includes the Patriots winning the division - to Jeremy Fowler’s survey of NFL executives on next season’s award winners. Kevin Seifert also broke down the NFL’s 2026 rules changes, including red flags and kickoffs.
For New England, though, the focus is squarely on the opener, the injury report, and whether the Patriots can start the season by handling a Seattle team that has drawn plenty of attention for all the wrong reasons in New England circles.
In Other News...
Gronkowskis Old Aaron Hernandez Story Has Patriots Fans Reeling
Rob Gronkowskis recollection of Aaron Hernandez has put a darker chapter of Patriots history back in the spotlight. Hernandez was once a major part of New Englands offense, but his career ended in tragedy after his 2015 murder conviction and his death by suicide in prison in 2017. Even years later, anything tied to his time in Foxborough still carries weight, especially for fans who remember how promising that partnership once looked on the field.
Gronkowski described Hernandezs behavior in team meetings as unpredictable, a detail that fits the uneasy way people often talk about those final Patriots seasons now. Hernandez had also been acquitted in a separate double homicide case before his death, adding another layer to an already complicated and unsettling story. It is the kind of old recollection that does not just revive memories of a former teammate, it reopens questions about how much was hiding in plain sight. [Read more 🡒]
Gronkowski Revived A Disturbing Patriots Story Fans Wont Forget
The Patriots Aaron Hernandez chapter has never really faded, and Rob Gronkowski has now pushed it back into the conversation by revisiting just how unsettling things could feel around his former teammate. Hernandez arrived in New England as a talented young player and quickly became part of a high-powered offense, but his football story was eventually swallowed by the murder case that led to his release and, later, a prison conviction that stunned the sport.
Gronkowskis remarks centered on Hernandezs unpredictable behavior during their time together, including one moment in team meetings that stood out even then. For Patriots fans, the uneasy part is not just the criminal case itself, but how much of the warning sign chatter around Hernandez was happening before everything unraveled, leaving a memory the franchise has never quite been able to shake. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Backfield Just Got More Interesting Behind Rhamondre Stevenson
The Patriots backfield already had a clear headliner in Rhamondre Stevenson, but the Week 1 picture is changing around him. Treveyon Henderson is sidelined with an ankle injury, which opens the door for Corey Kiner to see a bigger role right away and gives New England a little more to sort through behind its starter.
It also adds another layer to a group that was already worth watching because of how much responsibility Stevenson is expected to carry. With Henderson unavailable, the early snaps and touches behind him become more important, and the Patriots will have a chance to see whether Kiner can turn this opening into something more lasting once the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]