The New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks in a Super Bowl rematch to begin the 2026 NFL season. Preparations are complete for this game and beyond. The offseason focused on improvement, and the jury is still out on whether the Patriots did enough to get back to the top of the AFC East, the playoffs, and maybe beyond.
Depth is thin, and now an injury to running back TreVeyon Henderson may thrust newcomer Corey Kiner into action.
The running back tandem seemed solid until Henderson's injury. With Rhamondre Stevenson and Henderson on board, the Patriots can throw a terrific one-two punch at any NFL defense if both are healthy. Now, a preseason ankle injury to Henderson threatens to keep him on the shelf.
Kiner was recently acquired from Arizona for a seventh-round pick. He'll be the first man up if the explosive Henderson, from whom a lot was expected, can't go. If not, the pressure will be on the 24-year-old second-year man Kiner to step in and perform.
The New England Patriots need Cory Kiner to step up and deliver
The 5'10", 213-pound Kiner played in four games for the Cardinals last season but had only 12 carries for 54 yards and two receptions for 15 yards and a touchdown. It's hardly a sample that offers much comfort to the Patriots or their fanbase.
Regardless, if Kiner gets the call, as he may, it will be up to him to spell Stevenson and make things happen in Henderson's absence.
The other option is second-year man Lan Larison, who was waived on cutdown day but brought back onto the practice squad. Larison can both run and catch, but he has no NFL experience, having missed all of 2025 with an injury.
Few NFL running backs can make something out of nothing. Ironically, Henderson is one of them. Yet the offensive line has to create holes for the backs to take advantage of. They did far too little of that in 2025, and the unit returns four starters (Jared Wilson moves from left guard to center) from that same 5-man front.
The only addition is free-agent signee Alijah Vera-Tucker, who's struggled to stay on the field throughout his five-year NFL career and was out all of 2025 with an injury. Behind him, there's little NFL-quality depth. It will be up to the reliable Stevenson (if he can hold onto the rock) and now perhaps Kiner to make things happen, with whatever opportunities the O-line may provide.
At Cincinnati in his final college season. Kiner had a solid year with 1153 yards rushing, four touchdowns, and a hefty 5.7-yard average. If he can get close to that yards-per-carry average, he'll certainly be an asset. Yet, he remains a total question mark after a forgettable rookie season.
It would be the height of optimism for Patriot Nation to think Kiner will step in for Henderson and perform. But that's exactly what Mike Vrabel will be expecting. With no track record to speak of in the NFL to lean on, he'll remain a question mark until he delivers on the field. If Larison is activated, he'll be next up to see if he can take up the slack.
If not, there will be even more pressure on Drake Maye and his revamped passing game to carry the offense to wins.
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