New England Patriots - NESN.com
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson struggled against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, fumbling the football twice.
New England now needs to evaluate how it will handle Stevenson’s playing time moving forward, and former Patriots executive Scott Pioli thinks it’s time to give another running back a chance.
“It’s Game 3, and you are only going to get so many chances,” Piloi said on Sunday’s NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots potgame show. “To me, Rhamondre Stevenson is a terrific back. But if he’s not going to hold onto the ball, (the Patriots will say), ‘We’re going to give someone else a chance.'”
Stevensons’ first fumble was critical because it set up Pittsburgh’s first touchdown. The second one was just as important, coming at the goal line as the Patriots tried to tie the game at the start of the second half.
Stevenson has now lost 16 fumbles in 59 games, with turnover issues plaguing him since the start of his career.
Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson should begin taking most of the reps out of the backfield. He is dynamic in both the running and passing game, and he also had 667 touches at Ohio State, never fumbling once.
