Jerod Mayo Offers Concerning Update On Patriots Star Pass-Catcher

Jerod Mayo doesn’t know if Patriots tight end Hunter Henry will take the field for New England’s regular-season opener.

The Patriots first-year head coach offered a concerning health-related update on Henry as well as a few other members of New England’s tight end room. Austin Hooper and Mitchell Wilcox have joined the sidelined Henry and missed recent practices.

“I would say these aren’t extended recoveries for these guys,” Mayo said Monday during an appearance on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show.”

“They’ll be ready to go relatively early in the season.”

That’s far from the best-possible update, right?

Mayo spoke with reporters at Gillette Stadium just a few hours after his radio appearance and provided more intel on Henry, specifically. While Mayo did not say Henry would miss the start of the season, he also did not say he would be back.

“I wouldn’t say it’s in doubt. Right now, we’ll have to see,” Mayo told reporters, per a team-provided video. “We still have a lot of time. I think he’ll be there, but once again, when he’s ready to play, he’ll be out there.”

Henry has missed five consecutive practices as well as New England’s preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s not yet known what the veteran pass-catcher is dealing with.