With Rhamondre Stevenson (knee injury) and TreVeyon Henderson (neurological conditions) on the shelf, Corey Kiner should be in line for a bigger opportunity in the New England Patriots' backfield.
While he's likely not going to take the league by storm or become an All-Pro-level running back overnight, Kiner could take a legitimate leap, and it will be exciting to see where he can progress from here.
He has already shown flashes so far (52 rushing yards on six attempts against the Las Vegas Raiders; 57 rushing yards on 11 attempts, had eight consecutive rushing attempts on the Patriots' final drive of the game against the New York Jets; 55 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight attempts against the Green Bay Packers -- he's also had some solid kick returns), and now that he's probably about to take on a bigger role, he can continue building this momentum.
Corey Kiner can become a real asset in New England
There's a lot to like about what Kiner is bringing to the Patriots. He runs hard. He has good field vision and can run between the tackles. And he is good against contact (101 of his 244 yards came after contact).
He hasn't had a consistent role in New England yet, but he has looked good in his limited opportunities. There was even some discourse earlier in the season that he should become a bigger part of the Patriots' running back committee, and he should be able to prove why.
Kiner has a lot of talent, and in a backfield that has mostly been uninspiring this season, it will be great to see if he can bring a new dynamic and spark on the field. He's only 24 years old and was an undrafted free agent just last year, too, so depending on how he performs moving forward, he could become a part of New England's short- and long-term plans.
Additionally, one of New England's biggest concerns right now is how much pressure is on Drake Maye right now. Because of injuries, a lack of depth, and not having much help around him (particularly in the running game), it seems like the Patriots' success falls on Maye way too much. If he plays well, the Patriots have a chance to win a game. If he doesn't, then it's most likely going to be a loss.
If Kiner can keep his momentum going and make an impact in the running game, then that could be a great development for Maye and the rest of the offense. It can take some much-needed pressure off of him and open up the rest of the field for everyone else to make an impact.
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