It didn’t surprise many when the New England Patriots selected former Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. However, what has been confusing is head coach Mike Vrabel’s hesitance to let the rookie loose despite the high draft pick investment.
Here’s everything we know about Henderson’s involvement in the Patriots’ offense.
What Happened to New England Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson?
There’s nothing wrong with Henderson, which makes Vrabel’s hesitation to use him in the matchup confusing. It makes things even more confusing when fifth-year back Rhamondre Stevenson has fumbled the ball away three times on the season, his latest coming against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. Not only did Stevenson have the fumble, but he had just one carry for the loss of two yards in the first half.
However, an injury to running back Antonio Gibson could finally open up some opportunities for Henderson. The rookie’s snap count went up immediately following the injury, as he also took a carry three yards. He scampered for 16 more yards on the Patriots’ next drive, finishing the first half with three carries for 19 yards.
Rhamondre Stevenson fumbles the ball and gives the ball right back to Buffalo…
This is ridiculous.pic.twitter.com/tyR4ZcQ89U
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) October 6, 2025
Henderson has only rushed for 97 yards through four weeks, but finally found the end zone in the Patriots’ 42-13 thrashing of the Carolina Panthers in Week 4. He has shown off his power with a few double-digit runs in his limited touches. He’s also shown off his ability as a target out of the backfield, which is crucial in filling the void left by Gibson.
So far, the Patriots have surprised many with a 6-3 lead over the Bills at halftime. This lead has been largely fueled by their defense shutting down Josh Allen and Buffalo’s offense, but Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and the offense have stayed steady, connecting on two field goals.
They’ll need to get some more points, preferably touchdowns, to really feel safe. The Bills are sure to come out in the second half firing on all cylinders to stay undefeated, but New England is playing them well. They’ll need to clean up some areas to grab the win, but the performance in the first half is promising.
With Gibson gone, the rookie has an opportunity. Let’s see if Henderson can get more chances and take advantage of them while keeping the Bills on their heels.
