The New England Patriots will be without running back TreVeyon Henderson for multiple weeks after he suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday’s 45-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
The encouraging part is that Henderson is not expected to need surgery. The bad news is that high ankle sprains are rarely quick fixes, and New England now has to adjust its backfield just as the offense has begun to find a rhythm.
Left tackle Will Campbell is also dealing with a knee injury and is considered week-to-week, giving the Patriots two notable offensive injuries to manage ahead of Week 6 against the New York Jets.
How Long Will TreVeyon Henderson Be Out?
Reuters reported Monday that Henderson is expected to miss several weeks with the high ankle sprain he sustained against Las Vegas.
That does not give New England an exact return date, but it does make one thing clear: Henderson is not dealing with a one-week injury.
The Patriots are fortunate that surgery is not expected to be necessary. Henderson is also considered a quick healer, according to the report, but the team will still have to be careful with a lower-body injury that can linger if a player returns too soon.
For now, the safest expectation is that Henderson will miss Week 6 and likely remain out beyond that.
What Henderson’s Injury Means for the Patriots Backfield
Henderson had four carries for 22 yards and one catch for 16 yards before leaving the Raiders game.
He has become an important change-of-pace option in the Patriots’ offense, especially because of his ability to threaten defenses as both a runner and receiver.
Without him, the workload shifts more heavily toward Rhamondre Stevenson. Corey Kiner should also see an expanded role while Henderson is sidelined.
That matters because the Patriots have finally started to establish a more balanced offense around Drake Maye. Losing Henderson takes away one of the pieces that helped New England create explosive plays without asking Maye to do everything himself.
Will Campbell Is Also Week-to-Week
The injury concern is not limited to the backfield.
Campbell left the Raiders game with a knee injury and did not return. Mike Vrabel said Monday that the Patriots would take Campbell’s recovery day by day and evaluate how he responds during the week.
Reuters later reported that Campbell is considered week-to-week.
The second-year left tackle has started every game he has played since entering the league. He also missed time as a rookie because of a similar knee issue, which makes this another situation New England will want to handle carefully.
Caleb Lomu Could Be Asked to Step In
If Campbell cannot play against the Jets, Caleb Lomu is the most likely replacement.
Lomu stepped in after Campbell left Sunday’s game and has already spent time working at multiple spots in practice. Vrabel specifically pointed to those reps as valuable preparation if Lomu is asked to take on a bigger role.
That becomes especially important because protecting Maye has to remain the priority. The quarterback has been playing his best football of the season, and the Patriots cannot afford to let offensive-line injuries disrupt that momentum.
Patriots Face the Jets in Week 6
New England hosts the Jets on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET in a divisional matchup that suddenly carries added injury significance.
The Patriots are 3-2 after winning two straight games, including the road win over Buffalo and Sunday’s blowout of Las Vegas.
The Jets are 2-3 after beating Cleveland in Week 5.
If Henderson and Campbell are both unavailable, New England will enter the game without two important pieces of an offense that has only recently begun to look settled.
What Comes Next?
The Patriots should have a clearer picture on Campbell once the practice week begins.
Henderson’s timeline is less immediate. The expectation is multiple weeks, and New England has no reason to rush him back with a long season still ahead.
The larger concern is how the offense absorbs both injuries at once.
Stevenson and Kiner will have to handle more in the backfield. Lomu may have to protect Maye’s blind side. And the Patriots will need to prove that the offensive progress of the last two weeks can survive without two important contributors.
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