New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots found themselves in a rather sticky situation during Sunday’s eventual victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Rhamondre Stevenson was inactive, marking his second consecutive absence from game action and leaving the club three options at running back — TreVeyon Henderson, Terrell Jennings and practice squadder D’Ernest Johnson.
Henderson certainly stepped up — ripping off 55- and 69-yard touchdowns on his way to (presumably) earning Rookie of the Week honors for Week 10 — but only after Jennings left the game early and Johnson was forced to take a couple of snaps in his short absence…
That can’t happen again.
The Patriots know that, and brought aboard some reinforcements by re-signing running back Jonathan Ward to the practice squad on Tuesday, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.
Ward, 28, was initially signed to the practice squad on Oct. 28 before being released on Nov. 4, and has previously spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants.
New England now has plenty of options at the position, with Rushawn Baker joining both Ward and Johnson on the practice squad, as well as Stevenson and Jennings seemingly avoiding long-term injuries and set to soon return alongside Henderson.
It’s not the 2001 Miami Hurricanes, but the group seems to be in decent shape before playing on short rest on Thursday Night Football.
