TreVeyon Henderson’s ankle remains a real storyline for the Patriots with the season opener only eight days away, and the latest update doesn’t exactly calm nerves in Foxboro.
The good news is that Henderson was still around for team activities on Tuesday afternoon when the Patriots gathered again. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported that the rookie running back is recovering from the ankle injury he picked up later in training camp, but his return is still uncertain.
That leaves the Patriots in a familiar spot this time of year: sorting out what the backfield will actually look like once Week 1 arrives. The roster is still in flux, but the running back group is starting to take shape with Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, and Corey Kiner leading the way.
Stevenson is expected to hold onto the RB1 role, and after an impressive but under-the-radar summer, he could be on the verge of the best season of his career. That matters even more with Henderson coming off a rookie year that already showed how dangerous he can be and with his workload likely set to increase this season.
Kiner has also put enough on tape to stay in the conversation, and he may see more early reps if Henderson isn’t ready to go. For now, though, the bigger issue is Henderson’s health.
The most likely explanation is that the Patriots are choosing caution, hoping to avoid turning a manageable issue into something worse before the rematch with the Seahawks on September 9. That’s the kind of approach fans can live with. The alternative would be far more concerning if the injury is more serious than the team is letting on.
In Other News...
Patriots May Have Found The Missing Piece In Their Backfield
With Terrell Jennings and Lan Larison dealing with injuries and Jam Miller no longer in the mix, the Patriots had a clear need to add some depth to their backfield. They answered it by sending a 2028 seventh-round pick to Arizona for running back Corey Kiner, a move that gives the roster another option behind the top two runners and helps stabilize a position that had been thinned out quickly.
Kiner arrives with a reputation as a versatile back, the kind of player who can give New England something useful in multiple situations if he settles in quickly. The bigger question now is how much of a role he can carve out right away, but the Patriots at least found a practical answer to an immediate problem while keeping the cost low. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Leave Key Practice Squad Spots Open For Familiar Names
The Patriots filled out most of their initial practice squad with a dozen additions, but they still left five spots open as roster-building after cutdown day continues to take shape. An International Pathway Player joined the group without counting against the 16-man limit, while veteran punter Mitch Wishnowsky landed on the practice squad after Bryce Baringer was placed on injured reserve.
For a team always fine-tuning the back end of the roster, the open slots leave room for familiar faces and practical depth at spots where injuries can quickly force movement. New England already has help lined up at offensive line, wide receiver and running back, and a few more players are either working back from injury or expected to arrive soon, so the final version of the practice squad may still look a little different before long. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Practice Squad Move Signals More Than A Routine Roster Shuffle
The Patriots first practice squad of the 2026 season took shape in familiar fashion, built largely from players who had just come through roster cutdowns. Among the names were running backs Hassan Haskins and Lan Larison, defensive lineman Eric Gregory, cornerback Kindle Vildor and punter Mitch Wishnowsky, giving New England a group that looks designed to preserve depth while keeping a few intriguing options close at hand.
Wishnowskys presence also stands out because it reflects more than a standard post-cutdown addition. The veteran punter was brought in after Bryce Baringer landed on injured reserve because of a preseason injury, a move that underscores how quickly special teams plans can change in camp and why these early practice squad decisions matter as the Patriots settle into the season. [Read more 🡒]