The New England Patriots opened OTAs (organized team activities) on Monday, which gives head coach Mike Vrabel and the rest of the coaching staff a first chance to work with most of the team, including the incoming rookie class.
Vrabel and Co. won’t likely go into detail about their plans for the regular season, but it's an excellent opportunity to set ground rules and establish a new culture. Nevertheless, one notable Patriots veteran is absent from the OTAs, which caught Vrabel’s attention.
According to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, Vrabel told reporters that he’s been in contact with running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who is dealing with the loss of his father this spring. Vrabel added that they are excited to have the veteran running back, and he's going to be a big part of the team's 2025 attack, per Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald.
While the Patriots would love to have Stevenson in Foxboro for OTAs, they are giving him space to handle his personal matters.
The veteran playmaker will likely have a sizable role in New England’s offense despite the team drafting TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Last year, Stevenson struggled with holding onto the ball, tallying seven fumbles.
Despite the fumbling issue, the 27-year-old running back still had 801 rushing yards and seven TDs on 207 carries, along with 33 receptions (41 targets) for 168 yards and a touchdown last season.
However, with a new regime taking over, Stevenson will need to limit his fumbles. The Patriots have a capable RB2 in Henderson with the skills to make an immediate impact in Year 1.
We also can't forget about veteran Antonio Gibson, who carried a huge workload to start his career in Washington. Vrabel has a ton of different options in the backfield, and he won't be afraid to use them.