In Week 16 against the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson exited early with a head injury after taking a hit.
The concussion forced him to leave the game early. He went in the second quarter and was officially ruled out by halftime due to a head injury, walking off under his own power before being further evaluated.
New England Patriots Signed Former 49ers RB Elijah Mitchell
After a day, the team has not yet provided a firm return on Henderson’s timeline. Still, he is now in the NFL’s concussion protocol, meaning he must clear a multi-step evaluation before he can play again.
But before Henderson hit the gridiron again, the Patriots made a significant decision by signing a former San Francisco 49ers running back.
NFL reporter Ari Meirov broke the update on X, writing, “The #Patriots have signed former 49ers RB Elijah Mitchell to their practice squad.” The insider also added, “He was recently released by the Chiefs.”
Concussion recoveries vary, so rookie Henderson’s availability for Week 17 against the New York Jets is uncertain. To have great weaponry, the MVP-contender Drake Maye added Mitchell. As the rookie RB could miss one or more of the final regular-season games, depending on how he progresses, the 27-year-old can be a great fit.
Mitchell is a 2021 NFL Draft pick (6th round, 194th overall) who was subsequently selected by the San Francisco 49ers. And after spending four years in San Francisco, he was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs in March 2025.
The #Patriots have signed former 49ers RB Elijah Mitchell to their practice squad.
He was recently released by the Chiefs. pic.twitter.com/xaGTrRmeb0
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 23, 2025
Until then, Mitchell had never played more than 11 regular-season games and had missed the entire 2024 season due to a hamstring injury. He has also battled shoulder, finger, rib, concussion, and knee issues. In his four-year career, the former 49ers RB has been injured 11 times.
Regarding his statistics, he has only played one game for the Chiefs, which was on November 16, against the Denver Broncos, but he did not make any notable moves.
But overall, after playing 28 games over four years, Mitchell has made 327 rushing attempts for 1,523 yards and has scored a total of nine touchdowns. Following his breakout 2021 season, in which he played 11 games, 2023 was the only season he played 11 matchups again. However, he was unable to last the entire season due to a knee strain.
Now, as Mitchell will be helping Maye, this will be his first game after nearly two years. But there is a reason head coach Mike Vrabel has believed in him. The upcoming game against the Jets on Sunday, Dec. 29, will be Mitchell’s litmus test.
Quick Look at TreVeyon Henderson’s Potential Return
Henderson sustained a concussion in the second quarter of Sunday night’s matchup while carrying the ball on a first-down run. Baltimore safety Alohi Gilman brought him down, and during the tackle, Henderson lost his balance, fell backward, and struck the back of his head hard against the turf, prompting immediate concern from the sideline.
Henderson is ranked 19th in PFSN’s Running Back Impact with an impact score of 77.9.
So, there is no fixed time for recovery from a concussion. Let’s take an example of the Dallas Cowboys star WR CeeDee Lamb. He had suffered a concussion in Week 15 and was turned to practice for a week. So, comparing that to Henderson, he might come in for Week 18 at least.
The Patriots are competing for the AFC’s No. 1 seed with the Denver Broncos and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Only two weeks left. Let’s see if Maye’s team could clinch the spot with the help of young RB Mitchell, as they would get a home-ground advantage if successful.
