Patriots RB Henderson Sidelined, Practice Squad RB May Start

The New England Patriots are grappling with significant uncertainty in their running back corps as they prepare for an unusual Wednesday season opener against the Seattle Seahawks on September 9, 2026. TreVeyon Henderson has been sidelined since August 24 with a right ankle injury and has not practiced in two weeks, making his participation highly improbable. His continued absence is poised to elevate Rhamondre Stevenson's workload in a challenging environment at Lumen Field.

With Henderson out, the Patriots are reportedly leaning towards elevating practice squad running back Lan Larison for the game. Larison, an undrafted free agent from UC Davis, holds an edge due to his understanding of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' passing game concepts. Larison set a school record for career all-purpose yards, amassing 6,504. Despite a foot injury that cost him his rookie season, he demonstrated significant talent in college, leading the nation in all-purpose yards in his senior year.

Center Ben Brown has already been ruled out with a knee injury, adding another challenge for the Patriots. If Henderson is indeed inactive, New England's healthy running back options on the 53-man roster would be limited to Stevenson and Corey Kiner, making the practice squad elevation a critical decision. Final decisions on practice squad call-ups are typically made closer to game day, usually Tuesday or Wednesday morning.