Patriots Boosted by Return of TreVeyon Henderson for Steelers Clash

Henderson Ready to Return

The New England Patriots are getting a major boost for their home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Running back TreVeyon Henderson has announced he is ready to play after missing the season opener with an ankle injury.

Henderson injured his right ankle during a practice on August 24. After missing the first game, he returned to practice this week. He was a full participant on Wednesday, and his ankle responded well.

"I'm ready to go. Thank God I'm healed up now," Henderson said on Thursday. He added that he is excited to be back out on the field with his teammates.

A Strong Rookie Campaign

The speedy running back is a key part of the Patriots offense. In his 2025 rookie season, Henderson played in all 17 regular season games. He totaled 180 carries for 911 yards and nine rushing touchdowns. He also showed his versatility by catching 35 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown.

Henderson complements starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson. Without Henderson in the lineup for the season opener, Stevenson had to carry a massive workload. Stevenson was on the field for 60 of the 71 offensive snaps during New England's 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Grateful for the Recovery

Sitting on the sidelines was not easy for the young running back. Henderson admitted he wanted to play in the opener very badly, noting that he thought his team competed hard in a good matchup.

However, Henderson used the time away to reflect. "I'm thankful. It just continued to draw me closer to the Lord, and I'm thankful for the time, thankful for the growth," he said. Now, his focus shifts entirely to helping his team get their first win of the season.

What it means for the next game

Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots (NFL, Sun, 20 Sep): New England Patriots win 68%, Pittsburgh Steelers win 32%; projected score New England Patriots 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 18. Our safest pick: Patriots to win.