TreVeyon Henderson's struggles might push Patriots to use him in a new role

One of the more unexpected aspects of the Patriots' season so far has been their struggling run game, which has often been a non-factor during games.

Despite what appeared to be an elite pairing with Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, the duo hasn't had as much of an impact in 2026 as most projected, contributing to the offense's underwhelming, at times downright poor, performance, including from Drake Maye.

From the looks of it, beyond blaming the offensive line for not creating space for the runners, many believe Henderson is regressing from the player we saw last year. From running into his own offensive linemen and failing to break through tackles to not making the explosive plays he did as a rookie, there are plenty of concerns about his future.

It has raised questions about his fit in the offense and whether he should be a trade candidate ahead of the deadline, despite being only a second-year player.

But in that debate, there is a chance the Patriots will use him elsewhere, as special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer mentioned on Thursday afternoon.

Jeremy Springer wants to see TreVeyon Henderson used as a kick returner more moving forward

Because Henderson gets reps in practice as a kick returner, reporters asked Springer about whether we would see him in that role on game day any time soon.

Although Springer didn't give a definitive answer, he said he wants to see him more involved with the third unit, if possible, and based on his performance in that role from the 2025 preseason against the Commanders, it's easy to see why he should.

At the beginning of the season, it would seem unlikely that Josh McDaniels would be willing to use a player like Henderson as a special teams returner, given his importance to the run game behind Stevenson.

But in recent weeks, we've seen Henderson on the field at a career low, with Corey Kiner getting the ball more than expected, which could suggest how McDaniels feels about Henderson's current form.

If that's the case, using him as a returner makes sense for everyone, and it could be a win-win if he can replicate the success he had against the Commanders in a real game.

Moving forward, it wouldn't be surprising to see an uptick in Henderson on special teams, and given his current struggles, that makes a lot of sense. He would have more time to read the field and avoid tackles, which has been his biggest struggle, and he could use his speed to make a big play.

Whether he can and will do that is the bigger question, but we'll never know unless the Patriots give him a chance. And at this point, what do they have to lose?

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