Patriots Injury Report Leaves Two Key Availability Questions Before Steelers

In a pivotal injury update for both teams, the Patriots face a mix of setbacks and hopeful returns as they prepare to take on the Steelers this weekend.

The Patriots got a mixed injury update Wednesday, with cornerback Carlton Davis III and offensive tackle Dametrious Crownover sitting out while several familiar names were back on the practice field in Foxborough.

Davis and Crownover were the only New England players to miss the session. On the other side, the Steelers listed tight end Darnell Washington as a non-participant for a reason unrelated to injury - personal - while tackle Troy Fautanu was out with an ankle issue.

New England’s injury report did include a handful of encouraging returns. Offensive lineman Ben Brown, linebacker Dre’Mont Jones and linebacker Robert Spillane all took part in a limited capacity, and running back TreVeyon Henderson was a full participant after being unavailable last week.

Henderson had been ruled out for the season opener because of an ankle injury from August, but he was back on the field Wednesday. Before practice, head coach Mike Vrabel said, “I think he’ll be able to do some more,” Vrabel said of the No. 38 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft before Wednesday’s practice.

“He’ll be able to do some more today, so we’ll continue to evaluate that and see where he is. And hopefully, that continues to trend in the right direction.”

Davis’ absence is notable after he played 49 of 50 defensive snaps in last week’s loss. He briefly left in the first quarter of the Super Bowl LX rematch against the Seattle Seahawks after stopping a carry for no gain, but still handled nearly every snap in the game. Crownover, a rookie reserve, was held out because of a knee injury.

Brown’s return to limited work comes after he had been out since suffering a knee injury in the preseason opener, though he was back for a bonus practice earlier in the week. Jones and Spillane also logged partial sessions with lower-body issues. Jones, working off the edge, had already recorded the Patriots’ first sack of the 2026 campaign in his New England debut, while Spillane played every defensive snap in the 13-10 loss.

The first injury report comes with Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff against the Steelers at Gillette Stadium looming.

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