TreVeyon Henderson is set to make his season debut Sunday when the New England Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The second-year running back missed the opener with an ankle injury. He returned to practice this week and says he is ready to go.
Henderson slipped on the turf and hurt his right ankle at practice Aug. 24. He sat out the preseason finale at Cleveland as a precaution, then went two weeks without practicing and missed the Week 1 loss at Seattle.
He returned to practice Monday and was a full participant Wednesday.
His return gives New England a backfield split again. Rhamondre Stevenson carried the load in the 13-10 loss to the Seahawks, running 18 times for 51 yards and catching five passes for 44 yards.
Henderson was the more productive back last season.
As a rookie, he played all 17 games with four starts. He ran 180 times for 911 yards and nine touchdowns, a 5.1-yard average, and caught 35 passes for 221 yards and another score.
He led the Patriots in carries, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
His four touchdown runs of 50 or more yards tied Saquon Barkley for the most by a rookie since 2000. His 69-yard run was the longest in the NFL last season.
New England drafted him 38th overall in 2025 out of Ohio State.
Henderson also played in all four playoff games during the Patriots’ run to Super Bowl LX, starting alongside Stevenson in the loss to Seattle.
The offense needs a spark. Quarterback Drake Maye threw three interceptions in the opener, and receiver A.J. Brown is on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain.
Pittsburgh arrives without receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium. Inactives are due around 11:30 a.m. ET.
Should Henderson come through Sunday cleanly, the Patriots’ next test is at Jacksonville in Week 3, where the Jaguars carry a nine-game regular-season winning streak.
