Patriots inactives vs. Dolphins: A.J. Brown, TreVeyon Henderson out
MIAMI — On Nov. 1, 2026, the New England Patriots listed wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle/knee) and running back TreVeyon Henderson (illness) as inactives for their Week 8 game at the Miami Dolphins. The team announced that cornerback Carlton Davis III is active after missing multiple games with a neck injury. The game is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium and rain is in the forecast.
The Patriots were already shorthanded on offense en route to Miami, with Mack Hollins, Romeo Doubs, starting left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, starting right guard Mike Onwenu and fullback Reggie Gilliam unavailable. The team listed A.J. Brown, TreVeyon Henderson, Karon Prunty, Elliott Davison and Channing Canada as game-day inactives, and it designated rookie Behren Morton as the emergency third quarterback. The Patriots elevated wide receiver Ryan Miller from the practice squad for Week 8 to provide additional depth.
The Patriots enter the game with just three healthy receivers on their 53-man roster: DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III. Miller projects mainly as a core special-teamer with some size to play outside receiver after joining the practice squad on Oct. 19. New England will likely have Williams on the X, Chism on the Z and Douglas in the slot for a majority of snaps while they manage the depleted corps.
Chism has produced in limited opportunities this season, including a two-catch, 42-yard performance with a 23-yard game-winning touchdown in Buffalo in Week 4 and five catches for 57 yards in the following game. Williams has shown vertical separation and big-play ability, posting three catches for 91 yards and a 34-yard touchdown in Week 5. Both second-year receivers figure to see expanded roles Sunday given the absence of veteran targets.
With Henderson not traveling to Miami because of an illness, the Patriots signed running back Lan Larison from the practice squad to fill out the depth chart. Larison joins lead back Rhamondre Stevenson and Corey Kiner in the backfield rotation. Over the last four games Stevenson has played 64.8 percent of the offensive snaps, and he logged 85.1 percent of snaps in the season opener in Seattle when Henderson was absent.
The offensive line situation showed a positive development when center/guard Ben Brown returned to practice and was listed active after missing one game. Backup Walter Rouse said he will start at left guard after a solid spot start in Chicago, and the team could again use Rouse and Matt Pryor for continuity. Head coach Mike Vrabel declined to reveal a confirmed starting five on the line.
The Patriots defense receives a timely boost with the return of Davis, who missed three straight games and four of the past six with a neck issue. According to NextGen Stats, New England’s top cornerback trio of Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones and Davis has played just 54 snaps together this season, or 12.9 percent, compared with 51.5 percent of defensive snaps together in 2025. With the offense hampered by injuries and rain expected, the defense will be asked to carry a heavier load against a Dolphins offense that has shown recent effectiveness.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Patriots head to Miami significantly shorthanded on offense and will rely on depth players and schematic adjustments to manage Sunday. With A.J. Brown and TreVeyon Henderson unavailable, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III will shoulder most of the receiving workload while Ryan Miller provides special-teams and depth support. Rhamondre Stevenson projects to absorb an increased snap share, with Corey Kiner and Lan Larison providing early-down and situational work. The return of Carlton Davis III restores a key piece of the secondary and improves New England’s ability to control field position and blunt Miami in adverse weather.