The New England Patriots may have walked away from their Sunday night win over the Baltimore Ravens with a much-needed victory, but they didn’t escape unscathed. On Tuesday, head coach Mike Vrabel provided some clarity on the injury front-and it wasn’t exactly the kind of update fans were hoping for.
Three key offensive players-running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, and left guard Jared Wilson-are all now in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Let’s start with Henderson. The 23-year-old back exited the game in the second quarter after a short run ended awkwardly.
He fell backward and stayed down, prompting immediate attention from the Patriots’ medical staff-and even Vrabel himself came out to check on him. After a quick evaluation in the blue medical tent, Henderson was sent to the locker room.
Initially listed as questionable to return, he was officially ruled out by halftime. It’s a tough break for a young back who’s been trying to carve out a role in a crowded backfield.
Then there’s Kayshon Boutte. The third-year receiver was on the wrong end of a physical, contested deep ball late in the fourth quarter.
Boutte went up to make a play on a Drake Maye pass with Ravens corner Marlon Humphrey in tight coverage. It looked like there should’ve been a flag for pass interference-Humphrey was all over him-but no call came.
Boutte got his hands on the ball but couldn’t secure it, and in the process, he slammed his head against the turf. He didn’t return to the field after that hit.
And finally, Jared Wilson. The rookie left guard played all 74 offensive snaps against Baltimore and didn’t show any signs of injury during the game.
But according to Vrabel, Wilson was placed in concussion protocol following postgame evaluations. It’s a concerning development, especially considering he had just returned from an ankle injury that kept him sidelined since Week 12 against Cincinnati.
The Patriots had only just welcomed him back into the fold for last week’s game against Buffalo.
All three players will now go through the league’s standard concussion protocol, which includes a series of steps before they’re cleared to return to game action. With the regular season winding down and playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Patriots will be monitoring their statuses closely.
Injuries are part of the game, especially in December, but losing three young contributors-two of them starters-could test the depth of New England’s offense at a critical time.