Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson scored three touchdowns in Thursday night's win over the Jets.
Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson scored three touchdowns in Thursday night's win over the Jets.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Breaking down the snap counts from Patriots-Jets, New England’s eighth straight win . . .
1. In each week since Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) was sidelined, rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson has set a season high in snaps. On Thursday, Henderson was on the field for 59, or 88.1 percent of the offense’s total.
He again made the most of his increased workload, rushing for 62 yards on a season-high 19 carries. He also scored three times, twice on the ground and once on a 6-yard pass from Drake Maye. After his explosive plays stole the show last Sunday in Tampa, Henderson proved on Thursday that he also can run effectively between the tackles.
“He’s executed, whether that’s a checkdown or a touchdown in the back of the end zone,” coach Mike Vrabel said after Thursday’s win. “No home runs tonight, but I thought he grinded out pretty much what was there.”
Before Stevenson was injured in Week 8, Henderson was averaging 20 snaps per game. Stevenson took on the brunt of the carries, averaging 40 snaps and operating as the clear lead back.
Now, the question is: Will that change?
Stevenson didn’t participate in practice in Weeks 9 and 10, but he returned to the field in a limited capacity ahead of Thursday’s game. Once he is able to return, will he maintain his role? It looks as though Henderson has shown enough to at least even out the distribution.
But Vrabel has intentionally stood by Stevenson, even after he lost three fumbles earlier this season. The Patriots have trusted Stevenson more in blitz pickup, an area where Henderson has struggled at times to hold his ground. According to Pro Football Focus — which attributes pressure to specific players, among other relevant stats — Henderson has the worst pass-blocking grade on the team (22.7 out of 100).
There’s a case to be made, though, that Henderson has proven himself worthy of having a larger offensive role in spite of those deficiencies.
2. Defensive tackle Milton Williams played a season-low eight snaps because he suffered an ankle injury early in the first quarter. Williams tried to return to the field, but was ultimately ruled out.
Asked if Williams would have been able to keep playing under different circumstances (i.e. a playoff game), Vrabel said, “Maybe.”
“I made a decision that we felt like we should probably just start treating that thing and get ahead of it and see where he’s at here tomorrow, the next couple of days,” Vrabel said. “He wanted to try to go.”
With Williams out, undrafted rookie Eric Gregory made his NFL debut. He played 15 snaps, recording one tackle. Cory Durden played a season-high 34 snaps.
3. During their opening possession, the Patriots deployed a double-jumbo package on third and 1 from the Jets’ 10-yard line, using backup interior offensive lineman Ben Brown and nose tackle Khyiris Tonga. The two lined up wide for Henderson to convert the first down.
The snap was Tonga’s lone appearance on offense.
Brown, meanwhile, logged 12 snaps, 10 as a run blocker/jumbo tight end. His only other action this season came in Week 4, when he started at left guard in place of injured Jared Wilson. On the Patriots’ final possession Thursday, in which they converted a first down on three consecutive running plays to end the game, Brown was on the field for every play.
Tight end Austin Hooper’s absence (concussion) likely contributed to the increase in Brown’s usage. With Hooper sidelined, Hunter Henry was on the field for a season-high 94 percent of the offense’s snaps.
Patriots tight end Hunter Henry Hunter was on the field for a season-high 94 percent of the offense’s snaps against the Jets.
Patriots tight end Hunter Henry Hunter was on the field for a season-high 94 percent of the offense’s snaps against the Jets.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
According to Pro Football Focus, Henry run-blocked on 26 snaps, ran a route on 29 snaps, pass-blocked on four snaps, and lined up out of the backfield on four snaps. The distribution reflects Henry’s multiple contributions to the offense. He finished with four catches for 45 yards.
4. Safety Dell Pettus had played just four snaps over the past six weeks, but he came up big in the fourth quarter. On the Jets’ desperation fourth-down attempt from the Patriots’ 15-yard line, Pettus broke up a pass intended for tight end Jeremy Ruckert.
Pettus finished with nine snaps.
“Huge play on Kyle Pitts the other week, comes up huge for a game-winning play for us on fourth down,” linebacker Robert Spillane said. “I can’t say enough good things about him. He comes every day looking to get better, preparing to win, and preparing as a starter. When you make plays in this league, you tend to get more opportunities to make more plays. So, we’re excited to see where it goes.”
5. With Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) sidelined for a second straight game, rookie Kyle Williams maintained his elevated role with a season-high 45 snaps. He wasn’t able to haul in any of his targets, despite appearing to have a chance on a deep shot near the end zone at the end of the first half, as well as on a 30-yarder along the sideline in the third quarter.
Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow her @nicolecyang.