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Patriots’ TreVeyon Henderson Reveals True Reason for Early Success

Patriots’ TreVeyon Henderson Reveals True Reason for Early Success

New England Patriots’ TreVeyon Henderson shines in preseason and reveals the key reason behind his early success and strong drive.

Patriots’ TreVeyon Henderson Reveals True Reason for Early Success originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

New England Patriots' second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson has been one of the standout players during Patriots' training camp, and that continued into Friday night's preseason opener. The rookie running back didn't even let the offense touch the field on the first possession.

Henderson returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to give the Patriots an early lead over the Washington Commanders. He found an early crease and quickly had just the kicker to beat, and easily turned on the jets to hit the sideline and trot into the end zone for his first touchdown in the NFL.

“I wasn’t even expecting that, and then when I saw the crease, it was on from there,” Henderson said postgame (h/t Patriots Wire). "I thought the kicker was gonna get me, so I had to make sure I hit the gas. But yeah, that’s when I knew [I had a touchdown], when I got past the kicker.”

Henderson started the game with a bang, and the Patriots dominated on the scoreboard after that, earning a 48-18 victory over the Commanders. However, the overall performance didn't replicate the score as much. The Commanders out-gained the Patriots in yardage despite the lopsided score.

But Henderson was one of the standout players for the Patriots. The rookie running back only got one carry out of the backfield, but he took it for 18 yards and reeled in all three of his targets for 12 yards. Henderson finished his debut with 130 total yards, including his 100-yard kick-return touchdown.

Washington Commanders safety Tyler Owens (40) tries to tackle New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

The Patriots' rookie has always been outspoken about his faith, and Friday night was no different. Henderson came to the podium after his big night, with an even bigger smile, and got real with reporters on his faith journey and how it's affected his football journey.

"My purpose and the reason why I play this game, you know, God calls me to work as hardily as for him, and not to please men. And so I just try to come in with that mindset. You know, being in the NFL, being a young guy, second round draft pick, it's a lot of pressure, you know, and sometimes it's hard," Henderson said. "You know, with all that pressure being on you, but the biggest thing is just, I try to keep my eyes on the Lord. You know, I know, no matter what happens, I can come out here and give it everything that I got, and whether I have a good practice, bad practice, good game, bad game. You know, I know God loves me, and he's always here with me.

"And so that just motivates me to just keep going every day. You know, I have my ups and downs as well. You know, some practices are good. Some practices are bad but I just try to keep learning and getting better."

Henderson decided to give his life to Christ in 2023 after a challenging year in 2022. He had put everything into football and dealt with injuries and emotional turmoil during his sophomore year. Some teammates encouraged him to explore his faith more during that time, and his relationship with God blossomed there.

In 2023, Henderson bounced back with a smile and newfound happiness for football and life. He returned to Ohio State for his senior year, mainly because of his faith, and the Buckeyes won the National Championship.

The transition to the NFL from college can be difficult, especially when you're a top pick with lots of expectations, but Henderson has leaned on his faith to give him strength and comfort throughout his journey.

That journey is off to a red-hot start after he started the Patriots' preseason with fireworks on Friday night. Although Henderson wasn't the only one with a big smile after his first NFL touchdown, his quarterback, Drake Maye, was also pretty fired up.

"He’s like a lightning bolt. I saw the crease, knew he was gone," Maye said (h/t Patriots Wire). "Pretty cool the first time he touches the football, it’s a touchdown."

Related: Patriots’ DeMario Douglas Poised for 2025 Role Like Ravens’ Zay Flowers

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.

Category: Football

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