Patriots Rookie Preparing For New(ish) Role Before Super Bowl LX
'Coach Vrabel always tells us to prepare as a starter'
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson is looking for a way to contribute ahead of Super Bowl LX.
Henderson, who was on the field for just four snaps during his club’s AFC Championship victory over the Denver Broncos, has been working regularly on returning kickoffs despite not having done so since Oct. 26.
“Coach (Mike) Vrabel always tells us to prepare as a starter, and so even though I’m not first on the depth chart on kick return, we still get reps in practice,” Henderson said during his media availability on Tuesday, as shared by ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “… You never know.”
D’Ernest Johnson, Efton Chism III and Kyle Williams have shared those duties throughout the last several months, and have collectively been nothing if not unremarkable. Rhamondre Stevenson has rightfully commandeered the majority of the snaps at running back, serving as one of the most important pass-protectors on the entire offense while also leading the team in touchdowns (six) since his return in Week 12.
Henderson, on the other hand, has struggled.
It’s undeniable that he is one of the most explosive players on the roster, but his inability to consistently pick up pressure and find hidden yardage in the running game has led to him becoming something of an afterthought. New England hasn’t completely gone away from him, but he’s essentially been pigeonholed into an odd role over the last six weeks that includes 61 carries for only 195 yards (3.19 yards per carry).
The Patriots need to find ways to get him the ball in space, which might include having more of a role in the passing game or returning kicks — where he provided quite the spark by returning his first career touch 100 yards during the preseason against the Washington Commanders.
If he does get those opportunities moving forwards, it’s safe to say they’ll mean slightly more…
