Patriots
“He is like a lightning bolt.”
It didn’t take lengthy for TreVeyon Henderson to make an influence in his first unofficial NFL recreation.
The Patriots’ rookie working again took the sport’s opening kickoff the space of their 48-18 win over the Commanders on Friday, scoring a 100-yard kickoff return landing on his first contact.
The play actually impressed Henderson’s Patriots teammates.
“He’s like a lightning bolt. I noticed the crease, knew he was gone,” Patriots quarterback Drake Maye informed reporters. “Fairly cool, the primary time he touches the soccer, it’s a landing. Credit score to the blokes that did the blocking up entrance. That’s particular groups and all three phases. Particular groups obtained an opportunity to be massive for us this 12 months.”
“It was loopy. Thrilling. He lit us all up,” fellow Patriots working again Rhamondre Stevenson added. “He had some velocity on that one.”
Patriots of outdated had been additionally left amazed by Henderson’s play. Former Patriots working again James White exclaimed that Henderson is “going to be a problem” in a social media submit, whereas former Patriots middle David Andrews teased Devin McCourty that he already likes the “this new #32.”
Though the Commanders rested the overwhelming majority of their projected Week 1 starters on Friday, Henderson’s kickoff return served as an excellent omen for the remainder of the sport as New England hopes to show issues round after two straight 4-13 seasons. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel actually loved it, emphasizing that he needed to see good performs on particular groups in Friday’s recreation.
“I believe that was one of many phases that we talked that was going to be so essential. It’s exhausting to actually rep full velocity,” Vrabel mentioned of Henderson’s landing. “We obtained a number of of ’em towards Washington. I believe we noticed some issues that we will enhance on. That’s precisely what we did.
“I believe TreVeyon learn it out and hit the opening and everyone else blocked and completed and did all these good issues. It’s a step in the appropriate course. I believe it’s thrilling. We discuss how essential a part of a recreation goes to be, to have the ability to come out right here and work on it.”
Henderson’s contributions in his current debut didn’t finish there. On his lone carry, he took a halfback toss and hit the surface exhausting earlier than selecting up an 18-yard achieve.
The rookie was a bit extra lively within the passing recreation. He made three receptions for 12 yards, taking one in all his catches for a nine-yard achieve when he slipped out of a sort out on the line of scrimmage earlier than barreling over a defender on the finish of the play.
Henderson solely performed in two offensive drives on Friday, splitting touches with Stevenson and Antonio Gibson out of the backfield. As Stevenson has rushed for 1,000 yards up to now and Gibson has confirmed to be a top quality depth working again, Henderson appreciates the chance to compete with these guys in observe and now on gamedays.
“I believe we do an excellent job of simply feeding off each other’s power,” Henderson mentioned. “I do know in observe, these guys inspire me. You don’t all the time come out to observe motivated, however seeing different guys go and simply competing with the opposite guys, it pushes me lots. It helps me get going. And identical with the sport.”
By way of touches, Stevenson led the way in which out of the Patriots’ backfield. He had seven carries for 36 yards, dashing for a powerful 5.1 yards per carry. Gibson added 26 dashing yards on 4.3 yards per carry to go along with an 11-yard reception.
The addition of Henderson to the Patriots’ backfield actually offers them an excellent mixture of energy, velocity, and measurement. They’ve additionally proven the power to be receiving threats, making them versatile gamers. Maye enjoys having the dynamism round him.
“I believe it’s robust on the protection,” Maye mentioned. “All of them could make you miss. They will run over you. They will catch balls out of the backfield. It’s going to be difficult for us on when to make use of ‘em, easy methods to use ‘em, getting ‘em the ball. Obtained to get these guys open in area.
“They’re nice soccer gamers. See two of them on the kickoff return. I don’t know who they’re going to kick it to. Fairly massive ones tonight. Excited to have them beside me.”
Whereas all three made contributions, Friday was nonetheless Henderson’s night time to recollect. He is aware of that it’s solely the preseason, nevertheless it marked a dream come true for the rookie working again.
“That is one thing as a little bit child I’d be dreaming about, to be on this place, to be given this chance, and so I’m grateful,” Henderson mentioned. “I’m making an attempt my greatest to reap the benefits of each alternative I get. Man, it’s wonderful to be right here.”
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