As the New England Patriots prepare for Super Bowl LX, running back TreVeyon Henderson is doing everything he can to stay ready - even if his role on game day remains uncertain.
Henderson saw just four snaps in the Patriots’ AFC Championship win over the Denver Broncos, but he’s still putting in the work behind the scenes. One area he’s been focusing on? Kickoff returns - a role he hasn’t taken on since late October.
“Coach [Mike] Vrabel always tells us to prepare as a starter,” Henderson said during Tuesday’s media availability. “Even though I’m not first on the depth chart on kick return, we still get reps in practice. You never know.”
That mindset is exactly what you want from a young player fighting for a role on a Super Bowl roster. And Henderson’s not wrong - you really never know.
Injuries, momentum shifts, or a special teams spark can flip a game in an instant. Henderson’s versatility might just be the X-factor New England didn’t know it needed.
The Patriots have leaned on a rotating cast of returners in recent months - D’Ernest Johnson, Efton Chism III, and Kyle Williams have all taken turns handling kickoff duties. But none of them have exactly lit it up. That opens the door, at least a crack, for someone like Henderson to make a case.
At running back, Rhamondre Stevenson has firmly reestablished himself as the engine of the backfield. Since returning in Week 12, he’s led the team in touchdowns and has been a rock in pass protection - a critical component in New England’s offensive identity. That’s left Henderson in a bit of a holding pattern.
There’s no question Henderson brings juice. His speed and burst are undeniable - just ask anyone who saw his 100-yard kickoff return in the preseason against Washington.
That was the kind of play that turns heads and sparks hope. But since then, it’s been a tougher road.
Over the last six weeks, Henderson has logged 61 carries for 195 yards - a modest 3.19 yards per carry. That’s not the production you want from a change-of-pace back, especially in an offense that thrives on efficiency and ball control.
The issues haven’t been about talent - it’s been about consistency. Henderson has struggled to pick up blitzes and hasn’t been able to consistently find extra yards when the play breaks down.
Still, the Patriots haven’t completely gone away from him. They’ve just been selective.
And that’s where things get interesting heading into the biggest game of the season. With a defense like San Francisco’s (or whoever they’re facing) that can collapse a pocket in seconds, New England may need to get creative.
That could mean finding ways to get Henderson the ball in space - whether that’s through screens, swing passes, or, yes, kick returns.
There’s a role for a player like TreVeyon Henderson in a game like the Super Bowl. It just might not look like a traditional one. But if he gets the chance - even just one - he’s got the kind of explosiveness that can flip the script in a heartbeat.
And in a game where every inch, every second, every special teams snap matters? That might be all he needs.