The New England Patriots are off to a great start in the Mike Vrabel era. New England holds a 5-2 record after an impressive performance against Tennessee, where they dominated the Titans with a 31-13 victory on Sunday.
On Monday, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel addressed the role of one offensive player who didn’t have a big part in the Week 7 game. Vrabel reassured fans that rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson remains an important piece of the offense.
“It’s just kinda how it played out. Thought Rhamondre was running well,” Vrabel said, according to SI’s Mike Kadlick. “Had some good protections. TreVeyon’s gonna be a large part of what we do — that’s just kind of where it was this week.”
Starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson carried the bulk of the workload against the Titans, logging 18 carries for 88 rushing yards and a touchdown. Despite Stevenson’s solid performance in Sunday’s win, many Patriots fans are eager to see Henderson play a bigger role on offense, especially considering Stevenson’s struggles earlier in the season.
So far through seven games, Henderson has totaled 43 rushing attempts for 153 yards and one touchdown. He has also contributed as a receiver, with 16 receptions for 99 yards. Given the expectation that the Patriots would easily roll over the Titans, it made sense for the team to lean on an established running back and focus on a straightforward game plan. However, there is a good chance that Henderson will get more involved in the offense as the season progresses.
Adding to the positive outlook for Henderson, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported over the weekend that the Patriots are not actively shopping for running backs ahead of the November 4th trade deadline.
“The Patriots are not making calls for a running back, but they have talked to teams about pass rushers,” Rapoport wrote on Saturday. “They’re fielding calls on several of their own players as well.”
New England’s comfort with their current running back situation is a promising sign for Henderson. Although he is not the lead back at the moment, there is potential for him to grow into that role. Additionally, Henderson is just one injury away from becoming the Patriots’ primary running back.
With the team sitting at 5-2 through seven weeks, it’s too early for Patriots fans to panic about Henderson’s role. The rookie still has plenty of opportunities to make an impact this season.
Up next for the Patriots is a Week 8 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/patriots-news-mike-vrabel-eases-concerns-treveyon-henderson-fantasy-owners
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