TreVeyon Henderson's Ankle Clouds Patriots Opener at Seattle
Henderson missed his second straight Labor Day practice with a right ankle injury. The RB21 in our rankings is officially in limbo for Wednesday's 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff.
Ankle keeps him out of practice; wait for the final status before locking a lineup.
- Henderson missed 2nd straight practice (right ankle, Aug. 24)
- Center Ben Brown ruled OUT for the opener
- Henderson: 911 rush yds, 9 TD in 2025 (17 games)
- Greg Van Roten (105 career starts) slots in inside
- Patriots-Seahawks kicks off Wed, 8:20 p.m. ET at Lumen Field
The Patriots head to Seattle for Wednesday's 8:20 p.m. ET opener at Lumen Field carrying more question marks than a Super Bowl champion should. Second-year running back TreVeyon Henderson sat out his second straight practice Monday with the right ankle injury he suffered Aug. 24, and center Ben Brown has already been officially ruled out. Brown didn't even make the flight to the Pacific Northwest.
Henderson wasn't ruled out, but that's cold comfort. Head coach Mike Vrabel struck a wait-and-see tone before practice, saying they'd gauge how Henderson felt and whether he could do anything, while noting there were still a few days before kickoff. That's coach-speak for "we genuinely don't know yet." For a back coming off 911 rushing yards and nine touchdowns across 17 games in 2025, the timing is brutal.
What the Line Loss Means
Brown's absence matters even if Henderson suits up. The versatile lineman was released and re-signed after the 53-man cut deadline, and now summer pickup Greg Van Roten — 105 career starts in — steps in as the top interior backup. A reshuffled interior line against a Seattle front in Week 1 is not the runway you want for a young rusher already nursing an ankle.
On the other sideline, the Seahawks logged three limited participants Monday, including Nick Emmanwori. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist and No. 35 overall pick from last year's class had ankle surgery before camp and is being eased off the PUP list. New England, meanwhile, got good news on defensive tackle Christian Barmore, who returned to full work while managing a knee. Barmore started a career-high 16 games in 2025 with 29 tackles, 11 QB hits and two sacks.
The Fantasy Fallout
Henderson checks in as our RB21 and No. 60 overall (RB21 at the position), and his trend line is quietly encouraging — his last five games of 2025 ran +1.8 fantasy points above his season average, and he posted 206 PPR points on the year. That's a real Week 1 asset if he plays. The problem is the "if."
For managers, this is a WATCH situation, not a panic button. Don't drop him, and don't lock him into a lineup until Tuesday's final game status drops. If Henderson is cleared, he's a low-end RB2 flex even behind a patched-up line; if he's out or limited, have a pivot ready. Given the compressed midweek schedule, keep an eye on that eve-of-kickoff report — you won't have the usual Sunday cushion to react.
