Patriots' TreVeyon Henderson Reveals He 'Took Some Shots' in Much-Hyped NFL Debut

For Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson, the first training camp of his pro career was especially electric, highlighted as it was by a 100-yard kickoff returned for a touchdown in the team's preseason opener against Washington. Henderson looked explosive, and looked ready to challenge incumbent starter Rhamondre Stevenson for his job in the backfield.

Then came Sunday's Week 1 opener against the Raiders, a game the Patriots lost, 20-13. And all the sudden, things were different for Henderson. He played well enough in his opportunities, carrying for 27 yards on five carries and adding six catches for 24 yards out of the backfield, but the difference between the pros and college were evident.

“It’s definitely more physical than college. That surprised me,” Henderson said. “It’s definitely more physical than college, like I took some shots out there.”

TreVeyon Henderson Dealing With 'Big Adjustment' After Ohio State Career

Henderson can take some comfort in knowing he was one of the few bright spots for the Patriots on Sunday, that he surely still factors into the plan going forward. The team's rebuilt offensive line had its struggles and, more important, so did second-year quarterback Drake Maye.

But Henderson has long looked like he'd be a long-term fit in New England, and as bad as the overall results for the team were, there was nothing on Sunday to suggest Henderson won't see as big a role, or even a bigger role, going forward.

“For me personally, being a rookie, it’s definitely a big adjustment for me,” Henderson said. “Going to college, you’ve got the college playbook. Now, you’ve got the coach McDaniels playbook. He’s definitely done a good job helping us learn and helping us catch on just as rookies and helping us get adjusted to his playbook. ...”

Patriots' Running Attack Was Lacking in Week 1

Henderson was a second-round pick out of Ohio State, widely regarded as a steal in the 2025 draft for the Patritos. He got only five carries on the day. Stevenson did not do much better, with seven for a mere 15 yards.

“We definitely may not have run the ball as well as we wanted to. It’s something we have to continue to work on,” Henderson said. “It’s the first game. It’s definitely going to be a lot of mistakes out there, a lot of things we could’ve done better. The biggest thing is being consistent with the preparation each week and just not going downhill. Trying to get better as a team and as individuals.”