TreVeyon Henderson injury update: Patriots get good news about rookie running back

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TreVeyon Henderson injury update: Patriots get good news about rookie running back

Mark Daniels · MassLive

Fri, Dec 26, 2025 ·

3 min read

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FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots ’ injury situation went from bad to worse in Baltimore . Mike Vrabel’s team was already hurting when they saw 10 players suffer injuries in the win over the Ravens .

Among those injured, it didn’t look like TreVeyon Henderson would play in the Patriots ’ Week 17 matchup against the New York Jets . However, the team and their young, electric running back received good news this week, and now, Henderson is on track to play on Sunday afternoon.

On Friday, Mike Vrabel said the rookie is “questionable” for the Jets matchup.

The second-round pick suffered a concussion Sunday when he was spun down backwards and tackled by Baltimore safety Alho Gilman. Henderson slammed his head hard on the field inside M&T Bank Stadium before leaving for the locker room and was eventually ruled out by the Patriots.

Henderson was one of three Patriots players to enter the NFL’s concussion protocol this week. He was joined by receiver Kayshon Boutte and left guard Jared Wilson .

While Boutte and Wilson were ruled out for Sunday’s matchup, there were early signs that Henderson was progressing faster than his teammates.

On Wednesday, the first practice of the week saw the running back on the field with a red non-contact jersey while Wilson and Boutte were absent. That was a sign that Henderson had already progressed in the league’s concussion protocol.

In the NFL, when a player suffers a concussion, he must go through a five-step process before returning to the game field.

Phase 1 is limited to light aerobic exercises. If a player can do that without any symptoms, they move to the second phase, which involves graduated cardiovascular exercises. If the player passes that without any setbacks, he goes to Phase 3. There, a player can do football-specific exercises, including practice, for 30 minutes or less.

If a player gets out of Phase 3, he goes to the fourth phase, which is non-contact football activities without a 30-minute time limit. If all goes well, the player is clear for full football activity in Phase 5. It’s here where someone like Henderson needs to be cleared by a club physician and examined by an independent neurological consultant. If the player’s concussion has resolved, he can play in the next practice and game.

On Friday, Henderson was at Patriots practice and out of his red non-contact jersey. That indicated he was cleared for a full practice. The next step could be medical clearance for Henderson.

“I can’t really elaborate where he’s at (in the protocol),” Vrabel said. “I just want to say that he’s in the protocol until he’s not. That’s probably the easiest way for me and out of respect for the process of it.”

If he returns, it’ll be big news for the offense. Henderson, 23, leads the Patriots with 776 rushing yards to go with seven rushing touchdowns. He also has 35 receptions for 221 receiving yards and a touchdown.

This season, the rookie has been one of the most electric players in New England . With several starters ruled out on Friday, it’ll help the Patriots to have Henderson in the fold.

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