SoFla Guide Editors
The Patriots roll into Hard Rock Stadium this Sunday with a question mark in their backfield after running back TreVeyon Henderson missed Thursday’s practice with an illness. On the Miami side, cornerback JuJu Brents and offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor are in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Translation: both injury reports deserve a refresh before kickoff.
It’s an AFC East matchup, and Miami is chasing something it hasn’t had yet this season: a winning streak.
When, where and how to watch
The New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins Week 8 game is set for Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 4:25 PM ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, according to NFL.com and Patriots.com. It airs on CBS.
That’s a late-afternoon kickoff, so you’ve got time for brunch, a nap and a debate with your tío about the offensive line.
The Patriots’ side: Henderson’s surprise illness
Henderson did not practice Thursday, October 29, because of illness, USA TODAY Sports reported via Yahoo Sports. The twist is that he wasn’t on the injury report at all on Wednesday, so this one popped up out of nowhere.
Henderson, a second-year back and a 2025 second-round pick out of Ohio State, suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 5 that was expected to sideline him for multiple games. An illness is a different kind of wild card. Those can clear up in a day or linger through the weekend, and there’s no word yet on which way this one is headed.
Then there’s A.J. Brown. The Patriots traded a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for the star receiver in June 2026, according to the Eagles’ official site and the Boston Globe. His first season in New England has been bumpy. He suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 1 in Seattle, landed on injured reserve and returned in Week 6. He also has a disclosed degenerative knee condition. No updated status for him this week has been confirmed, so keep an eye on New England’s final report.
The Dolphins’ side: Brents and Proctor in protocol
Miami has its own health questions. Brents and Proctor, a rookie, entered the NFL’s concussion protocol after reporting symptoms following the Week 7 win over the New York Jets on October 25, head coach Jeff Hafley said, as reported by David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel via Yahoo Sports and Yardbarker.
The protocol has its own steps and timeline, and there’s no confirmed word yet on whether either player will be cleared for Sunday. Losing a corner and a lineman in the same week would test Miami’s depth on both sides of the ball, so their status could shape the game plan.
Chop Robinson keeps getting home
One bright spot for Miami is Chop Robinson. Through five games this season he has 2 sacks, 10 total tackles and 19 total pressures, according to the Miami Dolphins’ official team stats and ESPN. That puts him tied for the team lead in sacks with Zach Sieler.
The Palm Beach Post and Yahoo Sports have reportedly described Robinson as “dominating opposing quarterbacks.” Whether you go that far or not, 19 pressures in five games means opposing passers are seeing a lot of No. 1 draft capital in their face.
Robinson was the Dolphins’ first-round pick, 21st overall, in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Penn State, according to ESPN. Sunday is another chance for him to make a quarterback’s afternoon miserable.
Can Miami go back-to-back?
Last week’s 28-25 win over the Jets was Miami’s first win of the season. The Dolphins came into Week 8 at 1-5, while the Patriots arrived at 4-3.
So yes, New England walks in with the better record. But the Patriots also walk in with a running back who got sick midweek and a receiver whose season has been a health saga. Miami has its own concussion worries, which makes this less of a clean mismatch and more of a “who’s actually suiting up” puzzle.
If Robinson and the pass rush keep pressuring at their current pace, and if the Dolphins get good news on Brents and Proctor, Miami has a real shot at stacking wins for the first time this season. Final injury designations will tell the story, so check them before you settle into the couch.
Kickoff is 4:25 PM ET Sunday on CBS. Bring sunscreen if you’re going to Hard Rock and patience if you’re a Dolphins fan. Either way, this one has some intrigue.
