The New England Patriots are the hottest team in the league, as they are on an eight-game winning streak. Over the last three weeks, running back Rhamondre Stevenson has been sidelined due to a toe injury, and it's led to TreVeyon Henderson's playing a big role in the Patriots' recent success. Now, fans are excited to see what's next.
As the Patriots prepare for the Week 12 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals, it appears that Stevenson will be back in the fold. According to Patriots beat reporter Taylor Kyles, head coach Mike Vrabel expects that Stevenson, along with receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring), will return to practice on Wednesday.
And, of course, Stevenson's return isn't the best news for Henderson.
Rhamondre Stevenson Could Steal TreVeyon Henderson’s Snaps with a Week 12 Return
Over the first eight weeks of the season, Stevenson was leading the workhorse in the backfield, playing in over 50% of the snaps in every game. Meanwhile, in his absence, Henderson has taken the lion's share of the carries in the backfield. And he's been playing at a high level. In his last outing against the Jets, Henderson had 62 rushing yards, 31 receiving yards, and three total touchdowns.
In his last three games, the Ohio State product has compiled 264 rushing yards and 66 receiving yards, and five total scores. The speed that Henderson brings to the backfield is evident, but that might not be enough to help him run away from Stevenson's return. As great as the rookie has been lately, the Patriots coach's previous comments about the veteran runner as the team's RB1 are telling.
For the last few weeks, Stevenson didn't practice, so Henderson knew that he was going to be RB1. That isn't the case this week, as the Pats will see how Stevenson looks back on the practice field before making a decision. It wouldn't be surprising to see the backfield opportunities evenly split between the duo if they both play this weekend.
It's been an up-and-down rookie season for Henderson in 2025, but the talent is there. It's a tough decision that the coaching staff will need to make regarding the breakdown in the backfield. Stevenson is a five-year vet and still has faith from Vrabel, despite putting the ball on the ground a couple of times.
Having two effective running backs is a big bonus that works in New England's favor, especially as the weather gets colder. Nonetheless, the Patriots will have to iron out the workload in the backfield whenever Stevenson officially returns.
Henderson didn't waste his opportunity over the past few weeks and proved himself to be a dynamic weapon. But his workload looks like it's going to take a step back in the coming weeks. And that isn't what a player wants when they are starting to find their groove, but that's New England's situation in the backfield.