Hunter Henry leaves Patriots game at Miami with a foot injury

Patriots tight end Hunter Henry left Sunday's game at Miami with a foot injury and was listed as questionable to return. Underdog NFL posted the status alert late in the second quarter, and Patriots beat reporters confirmed it from the sideline.

Here is what is confirmed. Henry went to the medical tent, then headed to the locker room before halftime. The team listed him as questionable to return with a foot injury. When the third quarter started, Henry was back on the New England sideline with his helmet on, testing the foot, but he did not go out with the offense on the opening drive of the second half.

Before he got hurt, Henry had three catches for 30 yards. Miami led 13-3 at halftime and still led by that score midway through the third quarter.

What is not known yet is the severity. The Patriots have not given a diagnosis beyond "foot," and nobody has said whether this is a sprain, a bruise or something that costs him time. A player testing an injury on the sideline is a better sign than a trip to the cart, but it does not tell you about next week.

The timing hurts New England. The Patriots already played this game without A.J. Brown and TreVeyon Henderson, who were both downgraded to out on Friday. Henry has been one of Drake Maye's most reliable targets, and losing him for any stretch leaves the passing game very short on proven options.

What RSO owners should do now: hold Henry. Do not cut or sell a starting tight end on an in-game foot injury before the team says anything about it. If he is your only tight end, look at your bench and the waiver wire tonight so you have a fallback ready if his week starts with missed practices. Owners in deeper leagues can watch who takes the tight end snaps for New England over the rest of this game, since that player is the short-term add if Henry misses time.

What to watch next: whether Henry returns in the second half, anything the Patriots say about the foot after the game, and New England's first injury report of the week. A did-not-practice listing on Wednesday would be the first real warning sign for Week 9.