The New England Patriots are back on the biggest stage in sports for the first time since 2018, as they’ll face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60.
The big game is still over a week away from this coming Sunday, but that doesn’t mean the team isn’t already preparing for its biggest game of the year. On Wednesday, the Patriots didn’t hold a practice, but still released an initial injury report for the big game.
The most notable names on the report were defenders Harold Landry III and Robert Spillane, who were both listed as non-participants. However, Pats fans received some good news regarding the health of running back Terrell Jennings, who was listed as a full participant and passed the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Jennings has been sidelined for several weeks due to a concussion he sustained in Week 13, which placed him on injured reserve. The Pats opened up Jennings’ 21-day practice window on Jan. 14. He was listed as questionable for the divisional round and ruled out for the AFC Championship Game.
Now, the Patriots must decide whether they plan to activate Jennings for the Super Bowl or leave him on the bench.
Terrell Jennings on Doorstep of Being Put in Patriots' SB Plans
Looking at the Patriots’ running back depth chart heading into the Super Bowl, there’s a legit reason why Jennings should be activated.
New England seemingly doesn’t trust standout rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson, who carried the ball 21 times for 52 yards and played 51 combined offensive snaps through the Pats’ first two playoff games.
New England's trust in the rookie seemingly vanished in the AFC Championship Game, as Henderson only played four offensive snaps and had five yards on three carries. That’s not a good sign heading into the Super Bowl. Therefore, if New England doesn’t have faith in the rookie, having Jennings to back up Rhamondre Stevenson isn’t the worst idea.
As for the current running back taking Jennings’ spot on the 53-man roster, D’Ernest Johnson, he hasn’t played much on offense, but has seen some time on special teams.
Through the Patriots’ last two playoff games, the 29-year-old Johnson is averaging 26.5 yards per kick return. Meanwhile, Jennings has also handled kick return duties in the regular season, averaging 29.5 yards per kick return on two attempts.
Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what the Patriots ultimately decide to do. It’s not at the top of mind for most fans, but it's something they should keep an eye out for as New England prepares to challenge for another Lombardi Trophy.