The New England Patriots face a quick turnaround as they prepare for a Thursday Night Football matchup against the New York Jets. TreVeyon Henderson tweaked his knee during Sunday’s breakout performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Will fantasy football managers have their explosive running back available on short rest?
TreVeyon Henderson Injury Update
Henderson enjoyed the best game of his young career on Sunday, rushing for 147 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in the Patriots’ 30-13 victory over Tampa Bay. He ripped off touchdown runs of 55 and 69 yards, accounting for 124 of his 147 total rushing yards on just those two plays.​
The breakout performance came with starter Rhamondre Stevenson sidelined due to a toe injury and backup Terrell Jennings exiting in the first half with a knee injury. Henderson finally received the extended opportunity he’d been waiting for since being drafted in the second round.​
However, Henderson’s fantastic night almost came to a premature end in the third quarter. As quarterback Drake Maye scrambled to the right sideline, Henderson tried to provide protection when the running back got tangled up in the mess, leading to an injury to his knee.​
Henderson was listed as limited on Monday’s estimated practice report. The Patriots held a walkthrough rather than a full practice due to the short week, so the injury designations are estimates.​
The combination of Henderson finishing the game last week and him being listed as limited as opposed to DNP suggests he will be good to go on Thursday. Players who suffer significant knee injuries typically don’t remain in the game or receive limited designations the following day.​
Head coach Mike Vrabel addressed the running back situation on Monday. “Terrell’s being evaluated, and we’ll see where he is,” Vrabel said. “Again, today’s a walk-through, we’ll try to do our best with the injury report. We’ll see what he’s able to do. I would say the same for all those guys that weren’t available for the game yesterday. They’re working extremely hard, and we’ll see what they can do at the walk-thru. They’ll probably do a little bit more, and then we’ll try to evaluate so we can make some decisions for the game”.​
Both Henderson and Jennings received limited designations on Monday’s estimated injury report, while Stevenson remains sidelined with his toe issue. The Patriots have been tight-lipped on the status of Stevenson and the progress he is making toward a return.​
The short week presents a challenge for all three running backs, but Henderson’s limited status rather than a DNP provides optimism about his availability for Thursday night.
Henderson’s Fantasy Outlook
Henderson has waited patiently for his opportunity all season despite being New England’s second-round pick.
Prior to Sunday’s explosion, Henderson’s previous career high came in Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns when he rushed for 75 yards on 10 carries. That performance prompted offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to praise the young running back’s talent.​
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“I don’t think it’s a secret that he’s fast and he does some really good things with the ball,” McDaniels said. “I thought he made some really good runs. He fought through some contact. Excited to see him build on that and continue to grow”.​
The 147-yard, two-touchdown performance represents Henderson’s true breakout moment. He showcased the explosive speed and big-play ability that made him a coveted draft prospect out of Ohio State.​
Henderson finished his Ohio State career by rushing for 1,016 yards on 144 carries, averaging 7.1 yards per carry with 10 touchdowns in 2024. He also contributed 27 receptions for 284 yards and an additional touchdown. His performance earned him First-Team All-Big Ten honors.​
With Stevenson still dealing with his toe injury and Jennings also limited with his knee issue, Henderson could be in line for another significant workload Thursday night if he’s able to play. The Jets rank 18th in the league against the run, presenting another opportunity for Henderson to produce.​
The Patriots ground their way through a very difficult showing in Tampa Bay, pulling out a win to extend their winning streak to seven games and run their record to 8-2, tops in the AFC. While Henderson’s big-play performance highlighted a remarkable day for the offense, the run game was mostly stifled outside of his two explosive touchdown runs.​
Those two runs went for 124 yards, while the other 25 Patriots runs combined for just 42 yards. It was truly an all-or-nothing performance from the running game.​
Fantasy managers should feel cautiously optimistic about Henderson’s availability for Thursday night based on his limited designation. Even if he plays through some discomfort, his explosive ability makes him a viable RB2 option against the Jets. However, monitor Wednesday’s practice report for confirmation that he’s trending toward playing.
