New England Patriots
With Rhamondre Stevenson out on Sunday, New England added a reinforcement to its backfield.
Following an damage to beginning working again Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) this week, the Patriots added a veteran running back — D’Ernest Johnson — to the combo on their apply squad.
The identical week, New England has now elevated Johnson to the 53-man roster, placing him in line to make his Patriots debut on Sunday towards the Atlanta Falcons.
Johnson is a seven-year NFL veteran, giving New England some wanted expertise forward of Sunday’s matchup. Outdoors of his presence, the one different working backs on the Patriots roster are 2025 second-round choose TreVeyon Henderson and 2024 undrafted free agent Terrell Jennings.
Getting into the season, the working again place was as deep as any spot on New England’s depth chart, with confirmed abilities Stevenson and Antonio Gibson main the best way and Henderson set to demand snaps as properly. However since Gibson suffered a season-ending ACL damage early in October and Stevenson is nursing his foot damage, that depth has all however evaporated.
Henderson seems poised to take essentially the most reps within the Patriots’ backfield on Sunday, however Johnson may definitely issue into the equation not solely on offense, however on particular groups as properly.
Since Gibson’s damage, New England has looked for a substitute kick returner. Vrabel and particular groups coordinator have stored Henderson again returning kicks, together with Efton Chism and Kyle Williams in some capability. Johnson has expertise returning kicks within the NFL, so he may very well be an possibility if the Patriots elect to deploy him there.
Johnson has seen recreation motion with the Browns, Jaguars and Cardinals throughout his seven seasons within the NFL. His most effective year came in 2021 when he totaled 671 scrimmage yards (534 dashing, 137 receiving) and three touchdowns for the Browns.
The Patriots may nonetheless probably commerce for a working again previous to Tuesday’s NFL commerce deadline, as some NFL insiders together with Adam Schefter have speculated this week.
Nonetheless, except Stevenson’s damage sidelines him for a number of weeks, including a working again won’t be as large of a precedence as a transfer for an edge rusher or different defensive reinforcement can be.
How the Patriots elect to assault their backfield for the rest of the season stays to be seen. However on Sunday, it’ll be Henderson, Jennings, and Johnson attempting to assist the Patriots earn a sixth straight win.
Kickoff is about for 1 p.m. at Gillette Stadium Sunday.
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