TreVeyon Henderson played 13 snaps in the New England Patriots’ 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears on Oct. 22, 2026, as the second-year running back continued to search for consistent production in the Patriots’ offense.
New England finished with 70 rushing yards, while Henderson had three carries for nine yards and two receptions for 14 yards, according to Boston.com.
His five touches produced 23 total yards, and his limited workload became part of a broader evaluation of the Patriots’ running game after the loss. New England recorded a season-low 54 offensive snaps against Chicago, with its defense’s difficulty getting the Bears’ offense off the field contributing to the reduced number of opportunities.
TreVeyon Henderson’s limited production against Chicago
Henderson’s 13 snaps against Chicago came with New England’s offense producing 70 total rushing yards. His contribution was split between the ground game and the passing game, with nine yards on three attempts and 14 yards on two receptions. The Patriots also had trouble sustaining drives, and their difficulties on the ground left quarterback Drake Maye facing third downs in less manageable situations.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson supplied New England’s biggest rushing-related scoring play, catching a checkdown from Maye and turning it into a 48-yard touchdown near the end of the first half. That explosive play stood apart from the team’s overall 70-yard rushing total and Henderson’s modest numbers.
Henderson’s 13 snaps also reflected how little he featured in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ approach during the loss. On a first-quarter carry, a gap opened between Patriots offensive linemen Jared Wilson and Walter Rouse, but Henderson gained five yards before spinning into a Bears defender. Boston Herald reporter Doug Kyed highlighted the play, and Henderson did not take another snap until 7:36 remained in the third quarter.
The Chicago game added to a season in which Henderson’s rushing production has been defined by one major gain. Through six games, he has 203 rushing yards on 52 carries, according to Boston.com.
Henderson’s 39-yard touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2 is his only play longer than 15 yards this season. Boston.com calculated that he averaged 3.2 yards per carry when that touchdown is excluded, a figure covering 164 yards on his other 51 carries.
What Troy Brown said about Henderson’s running style
Troy Brown criticized Henderson’s vision and patience during the Patriots.com postgame show. Brown said the running back should watch Seattle’s Kenneth Walker and pointed to the need to allow rushing plays to develop. He also referenced the duo runs Henderson is asked to execute, in which patience can give blocks time to form and create a decision about which gap to attack.
“He needs to sit down and watch Kenneth Walker, he really does,” Brown said. “He’s just too fast and he reacts to things too fast.”
Brown’s remarks were commentary from the Patriots.com postgame show, not an official Patriots evaluation. His criticism addressed Henderson’s approach to reading rushing lanes and reacting to developing plays, rather than the total number of opportunities he received in Chicago.
Pass protection added another evaluation point
Henderson’s offensive value also includes his work as a pass protector for quarterback Drake Maye. His college profile included pass-blocking ability and receiving production, traits that had positioned him as a potential option in the passing game after New England selected him 38th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Pro Football Focus gave Henderson a 16.4 pass-blocking grade against Chicago, according to Boston.com. Henderson was unable to pick up a Bears blitz in the fourth quarter, a breakdown that contributed to pressure on Maye and a punt late in the game.
The grade adds a pass-protection measure to the statistics from Henderson’s 13-snap workload. His Chicago performance therefore included box-score production, season-long rushing data and an outside assessment of his blocking, with the fourth-quarter blitz providing a consequential example of the protection concern.
Mike Vrabel acknowledged the Patriots needed more on the ground
Mike Vrabel said New England needed to run the ball better against Chicago. His assessment followed a game in which the Patriots finished with 70 rushing yards and Henderson recorded nine yards on three carries. Vrabel also noted that the offense had moved the ball in different ways, while acknowledging that New England had hoped to run more effectively.
“I thought we’d be able to run it a little better than we did it,” Vrabel said.
That comment provided the team’s direct postgame assessment of its rushing performance, while Brown’s remarks and PFF’s grade addressed separate parts of Henderson’s evaluation. The Patriots’ 54 offensive snaps, 70 rushing yards and difficulty creating manageable third downs formed the team context for Henderson’s limited role against Chicago.
