The New England Patriots just reached an injury settlement with third-year running back Terrell Jennings, a move that sends him to waivers and throws another curveball into their already intense battle for depth at running back. This isn’t just a simple roster cut, it’s a strategic move opening the door for Jennings to potentially return to Foxborough later in the campaign as an unrestricted free agent, *if* he goes unclaimed and *after* the settlement timeframe is up. What a situation!
The Fight for the Third Spot Just Got Wild
Jennings, who is 25 years old and stands 6-foot, 222-pounds, was battling hard for the No. 3 running back spot. He was put on injured reserve mere hours before the Patriots’ preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Imagine fighting that hard only to land on IR right before the first game! The incumbents, Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, have those top two spots locked down. But that third stringer position is crucial, especially when you think about the grind of a full season. Now, with Jennings off the active roster, the competition among the other backs just ratcheted up even further. It’s truly wild!
What Jennings Brought and Who Steps Up Next
This isn’t Jennings’ first rodeo with the Patriots. He originally signed with New England as part of the 2024 undrafted free agent class out of Florida A&M. He went on to spend parts of the past two years on the 53-man roster after reaching the league limit in standard elevations from the practice squad. Jennings rushed for his first career touchdown last fall before finishing the journey to Super Bowl LX on injured reserve. He has totaled 115 yards from scrimmage over the course of 37 touches. The stay also brought two kickoff returns and three tackles through 79 snaps on offense and 69 snaps on special teams. That’s a solid, versatile resume for a guy fighting for a backup role! The other guys vying for that third spot are 2026 draft pick Jam Miller, 2025 undrafted free agent Lan Larison and veteran August additions Hassan Haskins and JaMycal Hasty, who all saw the field for what became a 13-13 tie at Gillette Stadium. This battle is far from settled, folks.
With the settlement, five players currently reside on injured reserve for the Patriots. The season-ending list includes tight end Julian Hill, wide receivers Jimmy Kibble and Jeremiah Webb, running back Myles Montgomery, as well as guard Andrew Rupcich, who was sent to IR amid a series of moves announced on Saturday. What happens next for Jennings on waivers? And who’s going to seize that crucial No. 3 RB spot for the Patriots? It’s going to be interesting to watch as the preseason unfolds!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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