The New England Patriots had high hopes for TreVeyon Henderson last season. The rookie running back struggled with poor vision, but his explosiveness and quickness made him worth the patience and the opportunities.
Henderson drew some buzz in training camp and was expected to get a larger share of the workload this season. Unfortunately, injuries have forced Josh McDaniels to take a different approach, and he hasn't done much with the chances he's been given.
That's why, as Corey Kiner slowly but steadily shows this team he can also contribute with the rock in his hands, Henderson may have suddenly found himself with more competition for touches. It'll be on him to come out on top.
Corey Kiner might be a legitimate threat to TreVeyon Henderson
Kiner hasn't gotten many opportunities this season, but he makes good plays whenever he's on the field. He turned heads with an impressive jump cut for a 20-yard gain in the win over the Miami Dolphins, finishing the game with seven carries for 38 rushing yards.
He's played in all eight games this season, turning 43 carries into 189 rushing yards (4.5 yards per carry). He hasn't found the end zone and lost a fumble, but most of his plays gained positive yardage; he also caught two passes on as many targets for 16 yards.
Henderson was a late scratch for the win over Miami, but he should be back on the field for Week 9 after battling an illness. Notably, he will now have a higher standard to measure himself against whenever he gets the rock in his hands.
Through six games, the former Ohio State star has 52 rushes for 203 yards (3.9 YPC) and one touchdown while also losing a fumble. His 33.9 rushing yards per game have been disappointing, and he has five catches on seven targets for 45 receiving yards.
The Henderson experience has been a bit of a rollercoaster, and he hasn't improved his vision or pass protection between seasons, which obviously doesn't help his case to take over Rhamondre Stevenson as the lead back.
Even so, the talent and draft pedigree should grant him more opportunities, and the team clearly still believes in him. But if Kiner continues to turn heads in a limited role and Stevenson doesn't put the ball on the ground, Henderson might suddenly find himself losing ground in the pecking order.
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