FOXBORO — Because the Patriots have gotten out to an unexpectedly scorching begin this season, their rallying cry has grow to be, “All of us we bought. All of us we want.”
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels expressed the same sentiment about his operating again group 5 days away from the NFL commerce deadline.
The Patriots have struggled to run the football at occasions this season, rating thirty first in EPA per rush and thirtieth in speeding success fee. They already handled attrition on the place when Antonio Gibson suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 5. With the commerce deadline quick approaching, it might make sense for the Patriots to pursue a operating again to fill the void left by Gibson. Working again and edge defender seem like the group’s two greatest wants.
McDaniels was requested Thursday if he was pleased with the group’s operating again depth.
“I feel we’ve got all of the solutions we want,” McDaniels stated. “As soon as coaching camp begins you don’t rely on something outdoors of what you may have within the locker room and you actually don’t want something outdoors of what you may have. We’ve spent on a regular basis we had attempting to determine tips on how to put our gamers which can be right here in nice positions. The fellows know precisely how we wish to attempt to play. I feel completely different components of our offense progress at completely different charges.”
The Patriots seemingly have some questions on the place heading into their Week 9 matchup with the Falcons. Starter Rhamondre Stevenson has missed consecutive practices with a toe harm. That leaves rookie TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings, who was promoted from the follow squad Wednesday, on the 53-man roster.
The group additionally signed three operating backs to their follow squad this week after inserting Jashaun Corbin on follow squad injured reserve. The group added two veterans in D’Ernest Johnson and Jonathan Ward and rookie Rushawn Baker.
If Stevenson can’t play, then Henderson, who’s performed simply 32% of offensive snaps, would possible tackle an even bigger function. Jennings has but to the touch the soccer this season outdoors of rubbish time, and he may very well be counted on in a significant capability.
Johnson is probably the most skilled of the Patriots’ follow squad operating backs with 215 profession carries for 989 yards and three touchdowns in seven seasons. He’s additionally been a productive pass-catcher with 53 receptions for 465 yards and has expertise as a kick and punt returner.
Ward entered the league in 2020 however has simply 22 profession carries for 91 yards and 6 catches for 52 yards. He’s returned two kicks for 41 yards and performed underneath Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel on the Titans.
Baker entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Elon this spring. He additionally performed collegiately at Bucknell.
It might possible be too late within the week to tug off a commerce, however the Patriots may nonetheless make a transfer on the place forward of subsequent week’s deadline. ESPN recently listed Jets operating again Breece Corridor, Panthers operating again Chuba Hubbard, Browns operating again Jerome Ford and Eagles operating again A.J. Dillon as gamers who may doubtlessly be made accessible.
