The New England Patriots have begun training camp, and there’s a new culture in Foxborough. After a laissez faire environment under Jerod Mayo last year, Mike Vrabel has preached accountability upon his arrival. The change has everyone from playmakers to reporters on top of their game early on and has some bullish on New England’s chance to improve following back-to-back 3-14 seasons.
It makes for an exciting time for the Patriots, but perhaps that’s not the case for those on the roster bubble. With the calendar turning to August, New England is officially ready to trim the fat off its roster, including a player the Patriots made an $11.5 million commitment to just one season ago.
Antonio Gibson’s Will Be Out of New England By September
The writing seems to have been on the wall for Antonio Gibson dating back to last April. Gibson already spent the 2024 season splitting time with starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson, but his path to playing time was further clouded when the Patriots selected TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of the NFL Draft.
Henderson has been advertised as a dynamic and versatile player coming out of Ohio State and is already climbing the depth chart. With a 4.43-second time in the 40-yard dash, Henderson has the ability to break a big play on the ground and has the hands to make big plays in the passing game as well.
“The rookie looks as explosive as any weapon on the team…and that’s no exaggeration,” Matt Dolloff of 98.5 The Sports Hub wrote early in camp. “The running backs have been working deep a lot, and Henderson consistently toasted coverage. …Henderson may be too undeniable of a talent to keep him away from the starters for too long. He’s hovered between the top-two units, as he and other rookies are eased in. But he’s clearly the most explosive back on the team.”
Stevenson saw Henderson’s playmaking ability and immediately dropped 10 pounds “to unlock breakaway speed” during the offseason. But Gibson has been auspiciously quiet and is now dealing with a hip injury that kept him out of Friday night’s practice. While he’s still third on the depth chart, UDFA Lan Larrison could grab a special teams spot and be a more cost-efficient choice for RB3.
The Patriots signed Gibson to a three-year, $11.5 million contract last summer, and despite being buried on the depth chart, he still has some trade value. If Larrison shows he can be more than a special teamer, New England could be making some calls and put Gibson officially on the block.