Insider Reveals Patriots Running Backs’ Expectations Amid Injuries

The New England Patriots still don’t know if starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson will return from his two-game toe injury absence in Week 11 on “Thursday Night Football” vs. the New York Jets.

When Stevenson does eventually make his way back, ESPN’s Dan Graziano believes the former fourth-round draft pick will be reinstated as the team’s primary ball carrier.

Rookie second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson has started the last two games for the Patriots, racking up 202 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries.

“Once Stevenson is back, I do expect him to reclaim his former role as the Patriots’ main between-the-tackles runner, despite the way rookie TreVeyon Henderson has performed in his absence,” Graziano wrote. “The Pats still trust the veteran Stevenson more in certain spots and would like to continue using both of them. Henderson’s explosiveness on outside runs is something that hasn’t surprised the Patriots — they took him in the second round for a reason, after all — and they might look to incorporate more of those even once Stevenson is back.”

Henderson had by far the best game of his career in New England’s Week 10 upset over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, recording 147 rushing yards and two scores on 14 carries.

The Ohio State product displayed his electric, breakaway speed on multiple occasions in the contest, scoring his touchdowns from 55 and 69 yards out.

Henderson has averaged a team-best 5.3 yards per carry on his 81 rushing attempts across 10 contests, while Stevenson has garnered a career-low 3.4 yards per tote on a team-high 83 carries.