Lions’ playoff hopes fade after gut-wrenching loss vs. Steelers
USA TODAY Sports’ Prince Grimes ‘overreacts’ to some of the best games from Sunday’s Week 16 slate.
The New England Patriots are back at the top of the AFC standings in 2025. A win in prime time over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16 cements their status as a No. 1 seed contender in the playoffs.
With two weeks to go, it’s down to the Patriots, Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars over who will earn the top seed in the AFC – a sentence few would’ve expected to read in September.
That’s thanks to a resurgent team led on offense by MVP contender Drake Maye at quarterback. In year two with Maye under center, the Patriots’ offense is a top-10 scoring unit after finishing 30th in points a year ago.
A lot of that can be attributed to Maye’s growth in his first year under a new coaching staff. But some of the Patriots’ offseason additions have played a role as well, including rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson.
The Patriots’ second-round pick out of Ohio State has been a dynamic threat out of the backfield in his first season. He leads the team in yards from scrimmage and total touchdowns through Week 16.
Unfortunately, he left New England’s game against Baltimore on “Sunday Night Football” with a concussion. Here’s how long he’ll be out.
How long is TreVeyon Henderson out?
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said today that Henderson has entered concussion protocol following his head injury against Baltimore.
The timeline for return once players enter the protocol often differs on a player-by-player basis. More often than not, players miss at least one week but it’s not unheard of for a quick turnaround.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb suffered a concussion in Week 14 and was back in action a week later for the Cowboys’ game against the Vikings. It all depends on how quickly a player can pass through the five-step return-to-participation protocol.
TreVeyon Henderson injury update
Henderson suffered a concussion in the second quarter of Sunday night’s game during a first-down rush. Ravens safety Alohi Gilman made the tackle on the play and Henderson fell backward and slammed his head on the turf.
Henderson initially tried to return to the huddle but went to the ground and the Patriots’ medical staff came onto the field. He was able to walk off the field under his own power and was evaluated.
New England initially said he was “questionable” to return to the game but ruled him out for the rest of the contest after halftime. He had three yards on five carries before leaving the game.
Rhamondre Stevenson led the way with Henderson out and finished the game with eight carries for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Patriots QB depth chart
Henderson has taken on a larger role in the offense over the course of the season. New England does have experienced players at the position to help in the case of Henderson’s absence, though. Here’s a look at the depth chart:
Stevenson led the team in rushing in 2022 and 2024 and has the experience to lead the ground attack if needed. Johnson would be the only other healthy running back on the active roster unless Corbin is cleared in time.