TreVeyon Henderson is trending toward missing Week 1
The Patriots' backfield just got a little more uncertain. Running back TreVeyon Henderson hurt his ankle during practice on Aug. 24. He hasn't practiced since. He was listed as a non-participant on the team's Sunday injury report for the season opener against the Seahawks. He's one of three non-participants.
Yahoo Sports frames Henderson as "in danger of missing Week 1." Pro Football Network is blunter: "increasingly unlikely" he plays. The practice history makes the second assessment the correct one.
Henderson isn't just missing limited work. He's missing everything. No practices, no progression. For a running back, that means his availability for a road game in Seattle is close to nil. Ankle injuries are tricky. They either respond to treatment or they don't, and Henderson's hasn't yet.
The Patriots have a decision to make. Do they carry Henderson on the active roster and risk him being limited? Or go into the opener without him? The injury report says he's a non-participant. That's usually enough to set expectations.
Here's the take: If Henderson doesn't return to the field in the next session, the Patriots should plan without him. Don't let a bad ankle turn into a wasted active spot. Week 1 against Seattle is only a question of availability, not production. Henderson can't produce if he can't practice.
This is the sort of injury that lingers. The Patriots need to be honest about the timeline. The report already is.