TreVeyon Henderson proves he belongs in the NFL: The Patriots’ 2nd round pick does it all against the Commanders

TreVeyon Henderson could hardly have dreamed of making a better start to his NFL career in the New England Patriots’ opening preseason game against the Washington Commanders on Friday, Aug. 8.

Henderson “surprised” by dream Patriots start

With his very first touch of the ball in professional football, the rookie running back sped through the heart of the Commanders’ coverage to convert a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown and open the game. We all knew Henderson was fast, but did we know he was that fast?

Although that was by far the highlight of Henderson’s performance, and indeed the game, the second-round pick out of Ohio State also registered 18 rushing yards and 12 receiving yards in limited snaps, marking a memorable Patriots debut. Who said the NFL was hard?

“I was surprised myself,” Henderson admitted. “Then when I saw the crease, it was on from there.”

Of course, preseason being preseason, we should perhaps resist the temptation to read too much into this week’s action, especially with many starters not involved. However, the expectations surrounding Henderson have suddenly increased, and the challenge now for the 22-year-old will be how to live up to them.

New England Patriots’ preseason and Week 1 schedule

The Patriots continue their preseason campaign against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, Aug. 16, followed by a game against the New York Giants on Thursday, Aug. 21.

Mike Vrabel’s team then kicks off the 2025 NFL season in Week 1 by hosting the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7.

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