A top goal for Mike Vrabel and his staff since taking over the Patriots in 2025 has been to drastically improve the roster across the board to make the team more competitive, particularly on offense, now that they appear to have their franchise quarterback.
That led to several big-time signings and trades, with A.J. Brown the latest move, and by all accounts, the Vrabel era has gotten off to a strong start. They made some wise decisions with who they've brought in, letting Drake Maye flourish to the point of falling one vote short of last season's MVP, and now he looks like that player again heading into Week 7.
A big reason for that is a jam-packed receiving corps, though it's now depleted by injuries, and a trusted backfield of solid running backs.
The expectation was that Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson would be the most impactful, and while that's mostly true, third-string Corey Kiner has risen to the occasion and could threaten Henderson's spot if his momentum continues this week.
Because Stevenson's fumbling issue has resurfaced this year, at least in the first few weeks of the season, and Henderson has dealt with injuries, Kiner has had more opportunities to carry the ball on game day than he likely would otherwise.
He's been a bright spot in a struggling backfield, and his playmaking was notable last week against the Jets, especially as Henderson deals with scrutiny at the start of his second season.
Corey Kiner is making a big splash in the Patriots' offense already
Despite fumbling on his first carry in last week's matchup, the Patriots entrusted Kiner almost exclusively with the ball in the fourth quarter, and he finished with 11 carries for 57 yards, averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
At one point, the offense ran 8 straight plays, handing the ball off to the running back, proving that they trusted him even after he caused a turnover and believed he could be a playmaker for the offense, even with a healthy Henderson and Stevenson available.
Corey Kiner on getting the trust of the coaches in the 4th quarter:
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) October 18, 2026
"It meant a lot. Seeing the smiles on my teammates' faces and coaches' faces, knowing that they trusted me and it worked out."
-@CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/7sBB4cI6Vd
Although this doesn't mean he'll be a starter anytime soon, it is noteworthy that Josh McDaniels chose Kiner to help burn the clock and move the chains instead of someone like Henderson, whom they drafted just last year.
The biggest criticism of Henderson has been his boom-or-bust performances. He is either really good and makes explosive plays, like his 39-yard touchdown against the Steelers in Week 2, or he carries the ball 14 times for just 42 yards, as he did against the Bills.
He isn't the only one struggling; Stevenson hasn't been consistent either. However, worries about Henderson have persisted since he was drafted, and many feel he's proven those concerns right with how he's played since last year.
That will presumably continue if Kiner keeps getting more opportunities and outperforms him over the next few games. It could easily spark a conversation about whether Henderson's spot on the roster is heating up and whether Kiner could leapfrog him on the depth chart.
Only Henderson can ensure that doesn't happen, given the opportunities he gets starting Thursday night against the Bears. They need more consistency, the ability to break tackles, better vision, and the ability to make big plays.
It's the only way that this won't remain a conversation for the rest of the season, especially if Kiner gets more chances to make an impact moving forward.
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