Patriots-Commanders stock watch: Henderson looks like a difference-maker

Patriots-Commanders stock watch: Henderson looks like a difference-maker originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

FOXBORO — The Patriots’ preseason opener at Gillette Stadium on Friday is the kind of game that requires a thorough explanation of the context surrounding the game prior to any kind of after-the-fact dissection.

Their opponents, the Commanders, sat a whopping 30 regulars. Their top two quarterbacks didn’t take a snap. The Patriots, meanwhile, wanted to play their healthy starters. Not for long. But long enough to help them jump out to a multi-score lead.

Therefore, Friday night’s 48-18 bludgeoning may not be all that it seems.

But that’s not to suggest there weren’t meaningful takeaways as the seats emptied and the clock wound down in the fourth quarter.

Mike Vrabel’s team was more prepared. They dominated in the kicking game. Their operation was clean. And they were officially penalized just twice for 15 yards — though they had multiple offsetting penalties — compared to Washington’s 13 penalties for 98 yards.

Vrabel’s team was more physical, too. New England’s running backs broke tackles with violence and aggression. Its ball-carriers, when running along the sideline, seemed to universally refuse to run out of bounds — instead opting to lower their shoulders through contact.

And outside of a lackadaisical Drake Maye fumble on the team’s first offensive drive, they generally made good decisions to protect the football.

It certainly wasn’t perfect. But in terms of which team seemed to do a better job of further establishing their chosen identity in their first preseason game, it was the Patriots.

Which players on Vrabel’s roster stood out? Which have work to do when it comes to making their case for the active roster?

Let’s get into it with a postgame Stock Watch…

TreVeyon Henderson, RB

Explosiveness personified. That’s what Henderson was on Friday night, providing fans in Foxboro with a jolt when he returned the opening kick 100 yards for a touchdown.

He added a forceful 18-yard run and 12 yards on three catches as a pass-catcher. For a team lacking game-breaking offensive talent, the rookie second-rounder already looks like one of their top options.

Efton Chism III, WR

Leading the team with six catches for 50 yards and a touchdown, Chism showed good hands and a hard-nosed approach with the ball in his hands. He also returned a punt for 11 yards and made a couple of good decisions to let punts bound into the end zone for touchbacks as a return man.

If the Patriots keep six receivers on their roster, Chism will have a shot if he continues to put together performances like Friday’s.

Javon Baker, WR

No catches for the second-year wideout, but two special-teams tackles. Vrabel sang Baker’s praises after the fact for his contributions in the kicking game.

“I think that’s fantastic,” Vrabel said. “When you have players, especially receivers, that can create a role, that can help you, be big, physical, everything that we see out of Javon as a receiver, when they can embrace that as special teams players, guys that are big and physical and fast and willing, that translates to special teams.

“Excited. Just happy for Javon just being able to go out there and contribute. When you do those things, your teammates get excited. Hopefully his confidence continues to grow.”

DJ James, CB

There’s a reason James has been around the football consistently in training camp. He has playmaking instincts.

In the first quarter, sensing receiver Michael Gallup was cutting off his route, James jumped between Gallup and quarterback Sam Hartman for an interception that only further solidified him as one of New England’s top performers this summer.

With Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis out, he’s made the most of his opportunities on the outside.

Lan Larison, RB

The undrafted rookie out of UC Davis had nine touches for 44 yards (seven carries, 35 yards; two catches, nine yards) and a touchdown. He also recorded a special-teams tackle, and returned a kick 25 yards as a returner. It was the kind of all-around performance that can help an under-the-radar rookie make headway toward a roster spot.

Larison was spotted wearing a walking boot in the locker room after the game, so his health bears watching. But if he can remain available, he could be of use to Vrabel, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer.

Parker Romo, K

Romo blasted a 57-yard kick that might’ve been good from 60 yards away. He’s doing his best to go kick-for-kick with rookie Andy Borregales, who also made his lone field-goal try (22 yards). Both made all three of their extra-point attempts.

Drake Maye, QB

His job isn’t in jeopardy, of course. He’s not going anywhere. But Maye began training camp doing an excellent job taking care of the football, and that has changed over the last week.

He threw two picks in a scrimmage last Friday. He was intercepted at the end of Wednesday’s joint practice with the Commanders. And in his first preseason game as a second-year player, he committed a mind-numbing turnover, fumbling deep in Patriots territory when he had time to either throw the ball away or simply take a sack.

“That’s a bad decision,” Vrabel said. “I think we’re going to need better from him. I think he knows that. That’s obvious.”

Maye did lead a scoring drive on New England’s next possession, scrambling into the end zone from five yards out. But he’ll want that turnover back.

Joshua Dobbs, QB

Maye’s backup went just 5-for-12 for 45 yards (3.8 per attempt) while facing backups across the Washington defense. He undershot an open Kyle Williams deep down the field, and he misfired high and behind to Williams along the goal line — a turnover-worthy kind of throw deep in the red zone.

Dobbs did scramble into the end zone for a score, but he didn’t do much to solidify his standing as a nice complementary option for Vrabel at the team’s most important position should Maye ever have to miss time. In fact, undrafted rookie Ben Wooldridge (9-for-12, 132 yards, one touchdown) had the more effective night as a passer.

Ja’Lynn Polk, WR

Through no fault of his own, Polk’s chances at making the roster appeared to take a hit on Friday. He left the game early after taking an end-around hand-off with what looked like an arm or shoulder injury.

Polk had offseason shoulder surgery that limited him in the spring, and we’ll see if he needs to miss significant time moving forward. He appeared to be in a battle for a gig with players like Javon Baker and Chism, both of whom had nice nights.

Anfernee Jennings, LB

The veteran edge defender started 30 games over the last two years for the Patriots, with his forte being his work in the running game. But in Vrabel’s defense, which seems to put more value on explosive pass-rushers off the edge, Jennings looks like he could be on the outside looking in when it comes time to make decisions on the roster.

He played late in the fourth quarter, finishing with three tackles.

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Patriots-Commanders stock watch: Henderson looks like a difference-maker

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