The Patriots have a TreVeyon Henderson problem, and it is not just about bad luck. The second-year running back failed to make an impact during Thursday’s 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears. He played only 13 snaps while gaining a mere nine yards on three carries. This is not the dynamic home-run hitter New England hoped for when they picked him in the 2025 draft.
Henderson was largely invisible in the game plan. While Rhamondre Stevenson scored on a 48-yard checkdown, Henderson caught just two passes for 14 yards. His lack of involvement shows the coaching staff does not trust him to move the chains. The team gained only 70 total yards on the ground, a season-low that hurt their drive sustainability.
Vision Woes And Bad Timing
Former Patriots great Troy Brown did not mince words after the game. He pointed out that Henderson struggles with vision and patience on the field. “He needs to sit down and watch Kenneth Walker, he really does,” Brown said of Henderson on the Patriots.com postgame show, according to Boston.com. That is a harsh critique from a legend who knows what it takes to succeed in New England.
Henderson has shown flashes of speed, but he is too boom-or-bust to rely on. He is looking more like a player who strikes out too often rather than a consistent threat. His snaps are too often wasted because he misses holes or makes poor decisions. The offense cannot afford to have a back who negates his own carries with major whiffs.
Mike Vrabel admitted the rushing game was not good enough on Thursday. “Offensive productivity is we didn’t run the ball well enough, but we moved it however we needed to move it, which sometimes you’re going to have days like that,” Vrabel said. But this was not just a bad day. It was a pattern of missed opportunities that Henderson is at the center of.
The Path Forward For New England
The Patriots need more than just speed. They need a back who can find the line and gain yards consistently. Henderson’s collegiate profile promised reliability, but that has not translated to the NFL yet. The team is 4-3 and trying to find its identity, but a running back who cannot get open field work is a liability.
Some fans hope he will be a power hitter with a high strikeout rate, but that is a risky bet. The Bears defense did not need to worry about him because he was not a factor. If the Patriots want to climb the standings, they must solve this backfield issue. Relying on a player who is an afterthought in the game plan is not a winning strategy.
Safety Craig Woodson said the team is moving on quickly. “We’re on to the next, man,” Woodson told reporters, according to the Boston Herald. But the next game will not fix the current problems if the running back situation remains unchanged. The numbers from Thursday prove that Henderson is not ready to lead the charge.
