The New England Patriots will head into Sunday’s showdown with the Green Bay Packers without two of their top skill position players for the second straight week.
During Friday’s media availability, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel ruled out both TreVeyon Henderson (illness) and A.J. Brown (knee, ankle) after neither player was able to practice this week. Vrabel said tight end Hunter Henry, who’s been managing a foot injury, is questionable for the Packers game along with defensive back Marcus Jones.
Henderson released a statement on Friday morning, sharing that he experienced “an unexpected and unusual medical emergency” that required hospitalization. He said the cause of his medical condition “remains unknown and unexplainable” and his focus right now is returning to full health.
Vrabel addressed Henderson’s situation, saying that he couldn’t put a timeline on when the Patriots' No. 2 running back might return. “I don’t think that’s fair,” he said.
“I know that he is well loved and respected on our football team,” Vrabel added of Henderson. “My support shows up in a lot of different ways. I’m just trying to make sure that TreVeyon is cared for, and that the recovery plan is intact and he’s comfortable with it. And that his wife, Kenzie, is cared for. And understand what was going on through the process. To support him the best way that I know how is just to care for him, listen to him, and do whatever we can to get healthy and get back and help this football team, and do what he loves.”
The Patriots will be leaning on Rhamondre Stevenson, Corey Kiner, and Lan Larison as their three running backs against the Packers.
“Same three guys that helped us win in Miami will be available,” said Vrabel, who was noncommittal on whether Henderson could be deactivated, such as the non-football injury list, in the coming days.
A.J. Brown to miss his sixth game of 2026 with ankle and knee injuries
A day after NFL insider Adam Schefter made some concerning comments on Brown’s knee, Vrabel confirmed that his No. 1 wideout will be out for the sixth time in nine games this season.
Schefter reported that Brown's longtime knee issue "flared up," leaving his status going forward up in the air.
"I know it says ankle and knee — but it’s the knee," he said during Thursday morning's episode of Get Up on ESPN. "The knee held him out last week, and the knee is threatening to hold him out this week. It’s a knee that I think raises some concerns as to how long he’s going to keep playing here in New England and producing at a high level.”
It’s that second part from Schefter — "how long he’s going to keep playing in New England" — that left Patriots fans and Boston sports radio buzzing over the past 24 hours.
Asked for an update on how Brown is doing, Vrabel once again refused to get into any specifics on the player's health or feelings.
“I mean, again, I’m not gonna speak on other people’s feelings or how they feel," Vrabel said. "I know he’s working extremely hard to get back, and he’s staying engaged in meetings and everything else, and doing everything we’re asking him to do. So if you have a chance to ask him about his feelings, I think that’s always the best. I’m not going to speak on somebody else’s feelings. I can only comment on what I see and how he comes into the building and is engaged. He’s certainly doing everything that he can to get back.”
Hunter Henry returns to practice, will carry questionable tag into the weekend
New England’s top tight end, who was knocked out of last week’s win over Miami with a foot injury and was held out of practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, was back on the field for the Patriots on Friday as he pushes to play against the Packers.
The Patriots will need their second-leading receiver for this one. The Packers enter Week 9 with the No. 4 defense in the NFL based on total EPA (expected points added).
Vrabel added that the team will take another day to decide on wide receiver Mack Hollins (calf) and guard Greg Van Roten (hamstring). Both players are eligible to be activated off injured reserve and have been practicing in a limited fashion this week.
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