New England Patriots - NESN.com
Riding a seven-game win streak into Thursday night against the New York Jets, there is plenty for the New England Patriots to have confidence about.
However, they may be short-handed at one crucial position: running back. With Rhamondre Stevenson missing the Patriots’ last two games due to a toe injury and Terrell Jennings popping up as limited on the latest injury report, New England signed veteran running back Jonathan Ward to its practice squad.
Sure, rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson was stellar against the Buccaneers, totaling 14 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns, the second score leading to a viral moment as he crossed the goal line. However, Henderson can’t carry the entire workload out of the backfield.
Ward, who turned 28 this season, has never eclipsed more than nine carries in a single season, let alone a game. So this may be a pure insurance signing as the Patriots have just three days to recover and practice between their win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their primetime matchup with the Jets.
With Jennings injuring his knee in the middle of Sunday’s win against the Buccaneers, Thursday could be too quick a turnaround for him. For Stevenson, he hasn’t played since the Patriots’ Week 8 win over the Cleveland Browns.
By making an addition, no matter how minuscule in their running back room, the Patriots may have given away their forecast for Stevenson and Jennings’ health against the Jets.
