Rhamondre Stevenson is sidelined for multiple weeks with a knee tendon issue, leaving the New England Patriots’ running back room critically thin as they head into a tough stretch of their schedule. The injury to the back of his knee is not expected to require surgery, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport both confirmed he’ll be out for a short period, potentially the next few weeks.
Another Gut Punch in Foxborough
This is a massive hit for the Patriots, especially coming late in Sunday’s brutal 45-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Stevenson went down after a six-yard reception and was immediately ruled out. The guy has been a workhorse for them all season, playing 65% of the team’s offensive snaps and being one of their most dependable players. He’s racked up 399 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 102 carries, plus an additional 26 receptions for 258 yards and two more scores through the air. You can’t forget his crucial contributions in pass protection either, which head coach Mike Vrabel and his teammates have consistently praised. Losing that kind of all-around production for weeks? That’s a gut punch.
Who’s Left to Carry the Load?
With Stevenson out and No. 2 running back TreVeyon Henderson also sidelined with an illness, the Patriots are down to just two active running backs on their roster: Corey Kiner and Lan Larison. That’s it. Kiner has taken on the biggest workload in Henderson’s absence, carrying the ball 50 times for 244 yards and a touchdown this season. But even with Kiner stepping up, Coach Vrabel isn’t sugarcoating things. “I think Corey is working extremely hard. I think Corey has done a really nice job,” Vrabel said Monday, “But there are also some things that Corey has to be able to improve on, just like a lot of guys, as far as recognition of the pressure and then the ability to block the pressure that we saw yesterday, for example.” They do have Terrell Jennings on the practice squad, but rolling into Week 10 with just two active backs and one of them needing to “improve on” pass protection is a huge red flag.
The Patriots now have to figure out how to piece together a running game for their Week 10 matchup against the Detroit Lions in Germany, with their backfield depth suddenly a major question mark. Meanwhile, for some real good news, your Seattle Seahawks just crushed the Arizona Cardinals 17-3. Go Hawks!
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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