Heading into this season, the New England Patriots' backfield, headlined by Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, and Antonio Gibson, was considered to be their best position group. The trio was expected to be big contributors to the offense.
However, the Patriots' running backs are off to a disappointing start, ranking 19th in rushing yards (103.3) and leading the league in fumbles (6). Because both Stevenson and Gibson had fumbles in last Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Patriots could opt to make a change at running back, which seems to be the case from Wednesday’s practice.
Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Henderson took the first running back reps in a ball-carrying drill, followed by Gibson, then Stevenson. This change likely indicates that Henderson will play a big role in the team’s upcoming game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon.
TreVeyon Henderson Could Take Stevenson's Reps in Week 4
Few Patriots fans anticipated Henderson to be this quiet after gaining a buzz for his performance in training camp and preseason play. Through three games, Henderson has been the second-string back behind Stevenson, recording only 65 rushing yards on 19 carries and 11 receptions for 73 yards.
Not only have his rushing numbers been subpar, but his pass protection, which he was regarded as one of the best in his class at, has been horrendous. Per PFF, Henderson has a 6.6 pass block grade, which ranks the fourth-worst among all running backs, while committing two holding penalties.
Although Henderson’s performance hasn’t been great, Stevenson and Gibson haven’t been any better. Despite their exceptional play in the team’s win against the Dolphins, the two have combined for only 145 rushing yards on 35 attempts and one touchdown. Since the start of last season, Stevenson has led all running backs in fumbles (9), and he and Gibson have combined for 12.
With ball security and limiting turnovers being a big emphasis for head coach Mike Vrabel’s offense, it makes sense for the team to give Henderson more reps. In his four years at Ohio State, Henderson has excelled at protecting the football, fumbling only two times on 667 touches.
This week’s game against the Panthers is the perfect time to unleash Henderson and pound the football, as the Panthers rank 22nd in rushing yards allowed (137.7) and 30th in yards per carry (5.4). If the Patriots are to win this game, they must have a turnover-free performance and be effective on the ground.