The Patriots’ backfield is already under the microscope, and Tony Pollard keeps surfacing as the kind of fix that would make a lot of sense if New England can get Tennessee to listen.
That’s the catch. The Titans reportedly still hold a grudge against their former head coach, which could make them unwilling to entertain a deal with Mike Vrabel’s team. And that matters, because the Patriots have real questions at running back heading into Week 9 against the Packers.
TreVeyon Henderson’s status has only added fuel to the speculation. He missed last week’s game against the Dolphins, and when the Patriots ruled him out with an illness 36 hours before kickoff, it looked like another case of the Foxboro Flu had hit the locker room. That immediately raised the possibility that Henderson could be on the trade block before next week’s deadline.
Even if New England isn’t ready to give up on him, the fit hasn’t been what the team hoped for. Henderson hasn’t had the breakout year many expected, and his role has shrunk in recent weeks. The Patriots used a second-round pick on him last year, so moving on this early would be a tough call, but the signs haven’t been encouraging.
Meanwhile, Rhamondre Stevenson remains the clear lead back. He’s handled 96 carries for 367 yards and 2 touchdowns, averaging 3.8 yards per carry. That workload has made him invaluable, but it’s also part of the problem: New England can’t keep asking him to do everything.
Drake Maye is next on the team’s rushing list with 46 carries for 216 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Henderson is third with 52 carries for 203 yards and 1 touchdown. Corey Kiner has had a few standout moments as the third-string option, but he doesn’t look like the right complement if the Patriots want a steadier two-back setup.
That’s where Pollard enters the picture. The Titans’ leading rusher has 133 carries for 595 yards and 6 touchdowns this season, good for 4.5 yards per carry and 74 yards per game. He’s also been on a heater lately, piling up 246 yards and 5 touchdowns over the last two games.
For a Patriots offense that has been too dependent on Maye’s legs at times, that kind of production would land with force. The run game has been inconsistent, and even with Stevenson appearing to have put his fumbling issues behind him, New England still hasn’t found enough reliable help behind him.
Pollard would change that quickly. He’s coming off four straight seasons with over 1,000 yards on the ground, and pairing him with Stevenson would give the Patriots a much stronger answer in the backfield. Analysts believe a deal wouldn’t require more than a mid-round pick, which is manageable for New England, especially if Henderson were included.
The idea makes sense on paper. Whether Tennessee will even pick up the phone is another matter entirely. And if they won’t, the Patriots may be left searching for answers right up to the deadline.
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Patriots Suddenly Face A Running Back Decision They Didn't Expect
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With the trade deadline approaching, the Patriots are at least being mentioned in the kind of running back speculation that usually surfaces only when a team feels pressed to act. The names being floated around the league are the sort that would reshape a backfield in a hurry, but for now it is still just that, speculation, as New England waits for more clarity on Henderson and weighs whether outside help becomes necessary. [Read more 🡒]