Hunter Henry hasn't made progress in his injury recovery, presenting question marks for the New England Patriots ahead of their Week 9 matchup this weekend.
Henry has been playing in the NFL since 2016, going through his sixth season with the Patriots. He stands out as one of the better veteran tight ends in the league, helping New England make a deep playoff run to Super Bowl 60 last season.
However, Henry suffered a foot injury during the Patriots' win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 8. It has impacted him enough to the point that he has been absent from practices for two consecutive days, per reporter Mike Reiss.
“TE Hunter Henry, who was limited to eight snaps Sunday after injuring his foot, is absent from practice for the second day in a row,” Reiss wrote on Thursday.
What lies ahead for Hunter Henry, Patriots
It is tough news for the Patriots to get regarding Hunter Henry. They await his full recovery from the foot injury, looking to other options if he isn't ready for Week 9.
Henry has settled in as one of Drake Maye's top targets, having reached 85 targets, 60 catches and 650 yards each of the past two seasons. This year, he has caught 29 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns in a balanced New England attack.
New England has a 5-3 record this season, sitting at second place in the AFC East Division standings. They are above the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins while trailing the Buffalo Bills. In terms of the conference standings, they are seventh place. They lead over the Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Raiders while being under the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Patriots will continue preparations for their upcoming matchup this weekend, being at home. They host the Green Bay Packers in Week 9 as kickoff commences on Nov. 8 at 4:25 p.m. ET.