The New England Patriots are heading into their season opener against the Seattle Seahawks without a clear answer on running back TreVeyon Henderson.
Henderson has been dealing with an ankle injury that has kept him off the practice field. His availability for Wednesday’s game remains uncertain.
The second-year back was not present when the team made players available to reporters on Sunday. That absence only added to the questions surrounding his status.
New England has been watching Henderson’s progress closely in the days leading up to Week 1. Coaches and trainers have not offered a firm timetable for his return.
Missing several practices makes it difficult for any player to get back up to full speed quickly. Henderson could still play, but he might not be at 100 percent if he does.
The Patriots may have to look at other options in the backfield if Henderson cannot go or is limited. Time is short before they take the field against Seattle.
Last season Henderson ran for 911 yards on 180 carries and scored nine touchdowns. He averaged 5.1 yards per attempt as a rookie.
Those numbers helped the Patriots reach the Super Bowl. Henderson gave the offense a home-run threat every time he touched the ball.
He also made franchise history. No Patriots running back before him had four runs of 50 yards or more or rushing touchdowns in a single season.
If Henderson sits, Rhamondre Stevenson would step in as the lead back. The veteran has shown he can handle a larger workload.
Stevenson has impressed the staff during training camp as both a runner and a pass protector. Head coach Mike Vrabel has spoken highly of that part of his game.
“I love the way that Rhamondre protects,” Vrabel said. “If you have backs that can pick up pressure, it’s one thing to be able to get over there and know where the pressure is coming from. It’s another [thing] to go block them.”
The Patriots believe they can still put together a solid performance even without their explosive young back. Vrabel pointed to the different skills across the running back room.
“Guys have different strengths. There’s a little bit of everything, and we’ll see who we end up using for the game,” Vrabel said.
The team is expected to give another update on Henderson before Wednesday. For now, the situation looks like it could keep him out of the opener.
New England will have to adjust its plans on the fly if the ankle does not cooperate. Stevenson and the rest of the group will be asked to set the tone against Seattle.
Henderson’s burst and vision were a big part of what made the Patriots’ offense click last year. Losing that element, even for one game, changes the picture.
The coming days will tell whether he can get on the field or whether the Patriots start the season without him.
