The New England Patriots’ running back room is already in flux, and Thursday night may have given them a fresh name to watch.
With rookie Myles Montgomery released with an injury designation and Terrell Jennings landing on season-ending IR over the last 48 hours, the door has swung open for somebody to grab the third running back job. New England brought in veterans Hassan Haskins and JaMycal Hasty, but the competition is wide open now.
Against Indianapolis, seventh-round rookie Jam Miller made a strong case.
Miller carried 14 times for 55 yards, both team highs, in the Patriots’ 13-13 tie with the Colts. He also held up well in pass protection, giving the kind of all-around showing that can earn a young back more trust fast. For a player who spent much of the summer working with the third-string offense, it was a meaningful step forward.
“Jam was great,” quarterback Tommy DeVito said postgame. “Again, another rookie that is stepping up to the plate, whether it is in pass protection or to run the ball.
He is confident in the huddle. You do not see him looking around and acting like he does not know what is going on.
So, his confidence, that helps myself and everybody in the huddle believe in him and feel confident - so when we hand him the ball, he lowers his pads.
“He will lay the boom on somebody. He also has a little shiftiness that I am ready to see some more and more.”
That performance mattered even more because Jennings had looked close to seizing the job during camp before his season-ending injury changed the picture. Lan Larison, who also saw early-game snaps alongside Miller, remains in the mix, but Thursday was not his cleanest night. He finished with seven carries for one yard and was stopped at the line several times, including a few plays that lost yardage.
Head coach Mike Vrabel said he liked what he saw from Miller.
“It was good to see Jam come out and have some nice runs,” Vrabel said. “I felt like he ran with his pads down and had a couple physical runs, and was happy for him.
This is a great evaluation. We can start to figure out guys that can and start to figure out guys that can't too.”
Miller’s style could also fit what New England needs. He ran with force between the tackles and was willing to absorb contact, which stands out on a roster that could lean on depth behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson over a long season. That kind of downhill presence may give him an edge over a more elusive, receiving-oriented option like Larison.
The rookie understands the competition isn’t slowing down.
“I feel like every team’s got to battle. Everybody is battling from starting quarterback to the starting running back.
Just everybody just competing,” Miller said, while noting that everyone in the room are friends. “But at the end of the day, pretty sure everybody knows that this is a business thing.
And for me, you know, I’m just trying to earn a spot on this team.”
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