The New England Patriots are making some late-season moves, and Tuesday’s additions were all about depth and insurance-especially at running back.
With rookie standout TreVeyon Henderson now in concussion protocol following a hard-fought win over the Ravens, the Patriots wasted no time reinforcing their backfield. Enter Elijah Mitchell, a familiar name for NFC West fans and a player who’s shown he can carry the load when called upon. The 27-year-old back has officially joined New England’s practice squad.
Mitchell brings solid experience from his time with the 49ers, where he racked up over 1,500 rushing yards and nine touchdowns across three seasons. When healthy, he’s a decisive, one-cut runner with enough burst to get to the second level.
But staying healthy has been the challenge. A hamstring injury landed him on season-ending injured reserve in 2024, and though he signed with the Chiefs for the 2025 season, he saw action in just one game before being released on December 20.
Now, he’s in Foxborough, where his role is clear: be ready if Henderson can’t go against the Jets. If the rookie is sidelined, the bulk of the carries will likely fall to Rhamondre Stevenson, who’s already proven he can handle a feature-back workload. Mitchell would serve as a complementary piece, a potential change-of-pace option if needed.
Beyond the backfield, the Patriots also made a few other roster tweaks. Offensive lineman Brenden Jaimes has been promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, a move that adds versatility along the interior line. Jaimes has the ability to play both center and guard, which could be crucial as New England braces for a physical Jets front.
Meanwhile, the team released tackle Sebastian Gutierrez from the practice squad and placed defensive tackle Joshua Farmer on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Farmer went down during Sunday’s win in Baltimore, and his absence will be felt on the interior defensive line, where his rotational snaps had been valuable.
With playoff hopes still alive, these roster moves may not make headlines, but they’re the kind of under-the-radar adjustments that can keep a team steady down the stretch. Whether Mitchell sees the field or not, the Patriots are making sure they’re covered-and in December, that’s what smart teams do.