The Patriots don’t need to go shopping at running back just because TreVeyon Henderson is expected to miss time with a high-ankle sprain.
That’s the reality sitting right in front of them after Sunday’s rout of the Raiders, and it points back to Rhamondre Stevenson. His box score so far this season doesn’t scream feature back - he hasn’t topped 65 rushing yards in a game, hasn’t broken a run longer than 25 yards, hasn’t caught a pass for 20 yards, and is sitting at 4.0 yards per carry - but the Patriots have already shown what this offense looks like when he’s the one carrying the load.
Against Las Vegas, Stevenson carried just 13 times, yet he still ranked seventh among NFL backs in Week 5 in yards over expected at plus 27.6. He’s been the Patriots’ best back in pass protection, and he’s the kind of runner who can rescue a play that looks dead on arrival.
“I thought he was tremendous in this [Raiders] game, gave them a threat of the run, which also helped out Maye,” Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal said about Stevenson on 98.5 The Sports Hub on Tuesday. "And that 12-yard run that he had where he should’ve been tackled for like a 3-yard loss was just a masterpiece.”
That kind of work matters even more when Henderson is sidelined. Stevenson has also quietly become a reliable outlet for quarterback Drake Maye, with 15 catches on 19 targets for 111 yards through five games. Henderson missed the opener at Seattle because of injury, and in the three-plus games he has played this season, he has only two receptions.
So while Henderson gives the Patriots a more explosive look, the offense has been better overall when Stevenson operates as the true No. 1. And with Henderson expected to return at some point, there isn’t much incentive to chase a major outside addition.
Terrell Jennings is another name to keep in the mix. He was waived off New England’s injured reserve list this summer, and per Doug Kyed of The Boston Herald, he would be eligible to work out for the team and potentially return to the roster in Week 7. Kyed also reported that Jennings’ injury settlement with the Patriots expires next week, which would allow New England to host him for a workout this week but not sign him until next week.
For now, Corey Kiner looks lined up for the No. 2 role after playing a season-high 15 offensive snaps against the Raiders. The Patriots could also elevate practice-squad back Lan Larison for short-term depth.
Last time Henderson was out in Week 1, Stevenson was on the field for 84.5% of the Patriots’ offensive snaps. There’s no real reason to think that number won’t rise again with Henderson sidelined in Week 6 against the Jets and beyond. They’re about to get the chance to feature him in the coming weeks.
In Other News...
Patriots May Have An O-Line Decision They Didn't Expect
The Patriots thought they were adding depth when they took Caleb Lomu out of Utah in the 2026 NFL Draft, a left tackle prospect who could handle swing duties and maybe eventually step in for Morgan Moses. Instead, the rookie has been pressed into a bigger role sooner than expected, with Will Campbell out and the line already feeling the impact of another key absence. Campbell had been playing well before getting hurt, which is what made the early look at Lomu so interesting in the first place.
Lomu made the most of his opportunity against the Raiders, enough to turn a temporary fill-in job into a real question for New England. Once Campbell is healthy enough to return, the Patriots may have a decision they did not exactly plan for at left tackle, because the rookies play has at least made the coaching staff think twice about handing the spot right back. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Belichick Hall Of Fame Tension Just Got More Frustrating
The Hall of Fame conversation around Bill Belichick has taken another turn, and it is not a particularly satisfying one for Patriots fans still waiting for clarity. Tony Dungy, a former Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, has said he believes Belichick belongs in Canton, but he has stopped short of saying how he handled the vote itself, leaving the process wrapped in the kind of mystery that tends to frustrate people already invested in the outcome.
Dungy pointed to the voting process and cited past examples of greats who did not get in right away, which only adds to the sense that this is bigger than one name on one ballot. For New England followers, Belichick's place among football's all-time coaching legends is not really in doubt, but the silence around an actual vote has kept the story alive and given fans another reason to wonder what is still being left unsaid. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Mourn A Franchise Great Who Helped Shape Their Early Years
The Patriots are mourning one of the franchises early pillars after former offensive lineman Jon Morris died at 84, the team announced. Morris spent 11 seasons in New England and became a familiar figure in the organization long before the franchise reached its modern heights, earning six AFL All-Star nods and later remaining connected to the club as a radio broadcaster.
His legacy was already secure in New England by the time he entered the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2011, a fitting recognition for a player who helped shape the teams formative years. Morris also carried a place in league history as the first Patriots player selected to the Pro Bowl after the AFL-NFL merger, another reminder of how long his impact lingered beyond his playing days. [Read more 🡒]