Patriots fans may be getting a little ahead of themselves on TreVeyon Henderson.
The second-round pick entered last season with plenty of buzz, but New England took the patient route with him. Even with the slower rollout, he still finished with more than 1,100 total yards and 10 touchdowns, enough production to keep him firmly in the fan base’s good graces.
This year, though, he has not delivered the breakout many expected. His pass protection for Drake Maye remains a concern, and that was one of the biggest questions hanging over him when he came out of Ohio State.
Even so, the picture is not as bleak as some might make it seem. Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport pointed out that Henderson has actually been the second-best second-year running back, with only Raiders star Ashton Jeanty ahead of him. Jeanty was selected more than 30 picks before Henderson.
That doesn’t mean Henderson has become the next Adrian Peterson, but it also doesn’t mean he’s not a difference-maker. His 3.9 yards per carry this season is underwhelming on the surface, yet his burst and explosiveness still pop in a way that very few backs can match.
When Henderson gets to the edge, he can really separate from defenders. He’s the kind of runner who can flip a drive with one touch, and that’s exactly why patience matters here.
The Patriots, for their part, have continued to lean on Rhamondre Stevenson even with his ball-security problems. If Stevenson can keep getting that kind of runway, Henderson deserves a similar dose of trust.
There are also real reasons to keep the judgment in check. Henderson missed time earlier in the season, and New England has been dealing with a patched-together offensive line because of injuries. That doesn’t excuse everything, but it does make the evaluation trickier.
He still has to own his flaws, and no one’s handing out a free pass. But it’s far too early to write him off. Some players simply need more time before everything clicks.
Henderson has shown he can turn a small crease into a huge gain, and whenever he’s been used heavily, he’s produced those chunk plays. The question now is less about talent and more about trust, usage, and getting him more reps.
His ceiling is going to stay limited as long as Stevenson remains part of the equation. Josh McDaniels wants to split the work, and while Henderson’s pass-blocking issues are part of that, the Patriots aren’t exactly making life easy for him either.
This offense is still being built, and Henderson is not the reason it’s stalled. The Patriots are not losing games because of him, and he’s done enough to earn the benefit of the doubt through the rest of the season.
Give him time.
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One name that fits the profile is a Chargers defender who has been productive on an otherwise struggling team and could appeal to a Patriots defense looking for experienced help behind its starters. Los Angeles is widely expected to listen on deals as its season has gone sideways, which puts a workable fit on the table for New England if it wants to reinforce a position group that could use another proven option. [Read more 🡒]