Corey Kiner, welcome to the big time.
Once again on Monday, as it has been for over two weeks, New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson missed or, as in this case, was not seen on the field at the media portion of practice.
Using past history as any indication, it is highly likely that the second-year back won’t be available for the Wednesday night NFL season-opener in Seattle. He might not even get on the plane.
“We’ll see how (Henderson) feels today. We’ll see if he can do anything. He’s been working extremely hard to come back. We’ll see where that goes today,” said Vrabel before practice. “We do have a few more days … but we’ll just see how that goes here today.”
On the injury report
Henderson was listed as a non-participant on the initial injury report by the team on Sunday.
That leaves the newcomer Kiner, brought to town in a pre-cutdown day deal with Arizona, and practice squad members Hassan Haskins and Lan Larison to vie for the No. 2 running back spot. Two of the three will most likely be dressed for the game in a backup role behind Rhamondre Stevenson.
Get ready for a new higher level of game
For Kiner, it would be a massive step up.
The second-year former undrafted free agent bounced from San Francisco to Minnesota and ultimately to Arizona.
He played in four games for the Cardinals to end the season, basically mopping up for a team that was out of the race and playing out the string.
© Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
A whole new ballgame
Wednesday night’s nationally-televised battle between the two reigning conference champs is a much different ballgame.
Kiner, who spent time in college playing at LSU and Cincinnati, carried 12 times for 58 yards last year.
Haskins is the most seasoned of the three potential replacements. He began his career with Vrabel in Tennessee in 2022 and played the past two years with the Chargers, combining to run 51 times for 136 yards and a pair of TDs.
Larison, an undrafted free agent last year, missed his whole rookie season after getting hurt in training camp last summer.
He was cut by the Patriots back in August and then immediately signed back to the practice squad.
