Patriots Rookie Star TreVeyon Henderson Ruled Out After Scary Head Injury
The New England Patriots suffered a significant blow to their offense during the second quarter of Sunday night’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson, who has recently emerged as a central figure in New England’s offensive scheme, has been ruled out for the remainder of the contest due to a head injury.
The scary scene unfolded quickly, silencing the crowd and bringing concerned teammates to the rookie’s side. The official word came down shortly after halftime, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirming that the Patriots had officially ruled Henderson out for the rest of the night.
The Moment of Impact
The injury occurred during a physical run in the second quarter. Henderson took a handoff and was met by Baltimore safety Alohi Gilman. The contact spun the rookie ball carrier backward, resulting in his head slamming violently against the turf.
The immediate aftermath was concerning for spectators and players alike. Henderson initially attempted to get back to his feet to return to the huddle. However, in a moment that highlights the dangerous reality of the sport, he was unable to maintain his balance and went back down to the ground.
New England’s medical staff immediately rushed onto the field to attend to the running back. After a brief evaluation on the turf, Henderson was able to walk off the field under his own power. He was guided directly to the blue medical tent on the sideline for further evaluation.
The situation escalated quickly from a medical standpoint. After a short period in the tent, Henderson was escorted to the locker room. While he was initially designated as questionable to return, the severity of the situation became clear when the team downgraded his status to out.
A Rising Star Sidelined
The timing of the injury is particularly difficult for the 22-year-old running back. After navigating a slow start to his professional career earlier this season, Henderson had found his stride and was playing the best football of his rookie campaign.
Just a week prior, Henderson delivered an electrifying performance against the Buffalo Bills that put the rest of the league on notice. He rushed for 148 yards on 14 carries and found the end zone twice with highlight-reel touchdowns. That breakout performance had shifted the narrative around his season entirely. At the time of Sunday’s kickoff, Henderson had become the betting favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Sunday night was proving to be a tougher challenge even before the injury. The Ravens’ stout defensive front had done an effective job of containing the explosive back in the early stages of the game. Before exiting, Henderson had managed just three yards on five rushing attempts, along with one catch for nine yards.
Impact on the Patriots Backfield
With Henderson unavailable, the workload for the remainder of the game falls squarely on the shoulders of veteran Rhamondre Stevenson. Stevenson, a capable and physical runner, will be tasked with anchoring the ground game against a punishing Baltimore defense.
The loss of Henderson removes a distinct element of speed and explosiveness from the Patriots’ game plan. His ability to turn the corner and break away from defenders was a key reason for the team’s offensive resurgence in recent weeks.
The team has not yet released details regarding the specific grade of the head injury or a timeline for his return. Henderson will likely enter the league’s concussion protocol, which requires players to clear a multi-step process before they are cleared to practice or play again. For a rookie who was just beginning to realize his potential on the field, the focus now shifts entirely to his recovery and health off of it.
