NFL Preseason Blitz: Rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson continues to impress for Patriots

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Fantasy football players beware: TreVeyon Henderson is going to go higher in drafts than you'd probably like.
It's hard to not get excited about the New England Patriots rookie running back after his first two preseason games. The Patriots still are looking for playmakers in their receiving corps, especially for the long term, but they have a running back who is fully capable of adding some much needed juice to the offense.
Henderson's first preseason play was a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He showed off the explosiveness that made him a second-round pick, and had many wondering if he should go in the first round. But the Patriots didn't draft him to return kicks. He's going to be a big part of their backfield this season, along with Rhamondre Stevenson.
If Henderson keeps impressing like he has, the timeshare with Stevenson could tip Henderson's way. Henderson looked good again on Saturday in the Patriots' 20-12 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Henderson had some nice runs and the best one was a touchdown. On third-and-4 in the red zone, he made a cut and burst through the hole, running through a couple of tackle attempts and got into the end zone. It's a play that could have been a loss for a couple of yards but Henderson turned it into a touchdown.
Henderson is known for his big-play ability but that showed he can run through traffic too. Henderson had just four carries but he had 20 yards and a touchdown. Last week Henderson had 18 yards on his lone carry and three catches for 12 yards.
Henderson isn't going to play too much this preseason. The Patriots have already seen what they wanted to see from him.
Spotlight team: Houston Texans
The Texans had a lot to feel good about in their second preseason game.
C.J. Stroud played against the Carolina Panthers in a 20-3 win and was sharp. He completed 6 of 8 for 44 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown went to Nico Collins, who is already a star and could end up in the All-Pro conversation if he stays healthy this season.
Defensively, the Texans were good too. Derek Stingley Jr. intercepted Bryce Young's first pass, though that was negated due to a defensive holding penalty. But the Texans forced a three-and-out on that drive, and a three-and-out on the Panthers' next drive with Mario Edwards Jr. getting a third-down sack. The Texans forced four punts on the Panthers' first four drives, the first two of which were played by Carolina's starters.
One question the Texans do have is at running back with Joe Mixon dealing with a foot injury. Early reports from camp were that former Browns star Nick Chubb had lost some explosiveness, but he looked pretty good with 25 yards on five carries.
It couldn't have been a much better tuneup for the Texans.
Standout player: 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall
If Saturday is any indication, Pearsall might have a big second season. Pearsall had three catches for 42 yards in his only drive of the game, which the 49ers won 22-19 on a field goal as time expired. Pearsall, a 2024 first-round pick, was shot in an attempted robbery just before last season began, and that contributed to a slow first few months to his career. He came on late in the season and is clearly a big part of the 49ers' plans this season.
Jauan Jennings has been out with a calf injury, which might be part of a hold in as he looks for an extension, and Brandon Aiyuk won't be ready for the start of the regular season. That means a lot of the passing game, at least at wide receiver, will fall on Pearsall early in the season. He looks ready for that responsibility.
Other games
Green Bay Packers 23, Indianapolis Colts 19: The story from this game was the Colts' quarterback competition, in which Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson Sr. each had their highlight moments, both teams got a good look at a couple of important backup running backs. MarShawn Lloyd, a 2024 draft pick of the Packers who has dealt with numerous injuries, played and had 15 yards on six carries. However, the injury bug hit Lloyd again when he left the game with hamstring tightness. The Packers will hope it's not another big setback. Colts rookie DJ Giddens is vying to be Jonathan Taylor's primary backup, and he had 28 yards on six carries.
Miami Dolphins 24, Detroit Lions 17: Neither team played its starters after a week of joint practices against each other. For the second straight preseason game, Lions rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa scored a touchdown on a very nice contested catch in the end zone. He was a surprising third-round pick but it looks like Detroit might have found a good receiver.
Cleveland Browns 22, Philadelphia Eagles 13: The Browns gave rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel at quarterback the start and the entire first half, and he played well other than a bad pick-6 to Eagles rookie Andrew Mukuba. The Eagles didn't play any starters, and also sat second-string quarterback Tanner McKee, who looked very good last week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Pittsburgh Steelers: Teddy Bridgewater might play forever. Bridgewater signed early in August with the Buccaneers after he was suspended from his job coaching Miami's Northwestern High for providing impermissible benefits. On Saturday night Bridgewater got the start for the Bucs, because coach Todd Bowles said he was sufficiently impressed with what he saw from Baker Mayfield in joint practices this week. Bridgewater threw for two touchdowns including a 15-yard touchdown pass to running back Bucky Irving in the first quarter. Bridgewater finished 6 of 11 for 85 yards.
Los Angeles Chargers at Los Angeles Rams: The Rams, as always, did not play starters .The Chargers did play starters and rookie first-round pick Omarion Hampton got some work after not playing last week. He had 12 yards on his first two NFL preseason carries on the Chargers' first possession. Also, training camp star KeAndre Lambert-Smith, a rookie, got a 29-yard catch from Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey had a catch for 17 yards. The starters came out after one drive, though Lambert-Smith stayed in and went to the locker room after taking a hit on an incomplete pass.
New York Jets at New York Giants: The Jets continue to give second-year running back Braelon Allen a lot of work with the starting offense. Breece Hall started but Allen got plenty of reps when Justin Fields and other starters were in the game. Over the first two series when the starters were in, Hall had seven rushing attempts and Allen had five. The Jets might end up leading the NFL in rushing attempts this season, and it seems Allen will get plenty of them.
Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys: Neither team played starters. Unlike last week, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer had his starters dress out and warm up before the game, but did not use them in the game. Joe Milton III started at quarterback for the Cowboys and on his first drive he was sacked in the end zone on a cornerback blitz for a safety.
Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos: The Cardinals and Broncos got in work during joint practices during the week, and the Cardinals defensive players had high praise for second-year Broncos quarterback Bo Nix.
"He has what it takes," veteran Arizona defensive lineman Calais Campbell said. "He's poised. He made quick decisions — he didn't hold the ball long at all."
"Bo, you can definitely tell he made the Year 2 leap," Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson said, via KCNC in Denver.
Final thoughts
• Panthers quarterback Bryce Young had a forgettable game. His first pass was intercepted by Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., though it was wiped out due to defensive holding. Young threw incomplete on his next two passes and the Panthers punted. On third down on the Panthers' second series, Young was sacked. Andy Dalton took over on the next series. It wasn't Young's best game, but thankfully it's just the preseason. The worse news for the Panthers might be that Dalton was being evaluated for a possible sprained right elbow, via NFL Media.
• With De'Von Achane dealing with a lower body injury, there will be more attention on his backups as the season gets closer. Jaylen Wright was supposed to have a significant role behind Achane, but the preseason production hasn't been good. Last week he had 16 yards on nine carries and was stuffed in goal-line situations multiple times. On Saturday he had 3 yards on four carries. He wasn't working with starters on Saturday, because they sat out, but the results weren't great regardless. Rookie Ollie Gordon II was far more productive, with 50 yards on his 10 carries.
• After a rough preseason debut last week, Dolphins rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers had a much better second game. He had 116 passing yards, two touchdown passes and no interceptions against the Lions.
• Maxx Crosby doesn't need the preseason, but the star Raiders end still had a highlight play with a 5-yard tackle for loss against 49ers running back Patrick Taylor.
• Another Raiders star who doesn't need the preseason is tight end Brock Bowers, who Moss'ed 49ers defensive back Ji'Ayir Brown for a 30-yard gain. Bowers, who set records for a rookie tight end last season, should have another monster season.
• To complete the triple crown for the Raiders, rookie running back Ashton Jeanty had a strong bounceback from a quiet preseason debut, running hard against the 49ers and coming back from an injury scare to score a touchdown at the goal line. He also had a run where he completely ran over 49ers defensive back Deommodore Lenoir and kept going. The sixth pick of the draft looked as good as advertised against the 49ers.
• Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and Browns coach Kevin Stefanski had a lighthearted moment before halftime. Stefanski called a timeout to ice the kicker, which is a bit silly in a preseason game. Sirianni had a chuckle and a smile across the field, and he had some joking (right?) words to Stefanski over it.
• Chargers receiver Quentin Johnston was injured after taking a big hit right after he couldn't haul in a deep pass down the sideline. He seemed to hit his head on the ground after his fall, and was down for a long time before he got up and was carted off. It was a brutal injury for Johnston and also the Chargers, who have taken on a few key injuries already. Another Chargers injury to watch: Rookie receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who has had a buzzy camp and preseason, went to the locker room after taking a hit on an incomplete pass.
• 49ers kicker Jake Moody had a finish that should help his confidence. Moody missed a 53-yard attempt early in the game and barely made a 26-yarder, but he hit a 44-yarder with less than a minute left to tie it, then after an interception he nailed a 59-yarder as time expired to win it.