New England Patriots - NESN.com
The Patriots should consider bolstering their dynamic offense before next Tuesday’s trade deadline.
While adding depth at wide receiver and tight end would be beneficial, MassLive’s Mark Daniels pointed out that the Patriots should focus on strengthening the running back room.
“The Patriots could use more veteran depth behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson,” Daniels wrote on Thursday. “The team signed running back Terrell Jennings to the 53-man roster and added veteran D’Earnest Johnson to the practice squad. Another veteran would ensure better depth for the stretch run.”
This season, New England averages 112.6 rushing yards per game, yet Pro Football Focus ranks it 32nd in rushing grade.
The Patriots already lost backup running back Antonio Gibson for the season due to a torn ACL, and Stevenson is currently dealing with a toe injury, which kept him out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday.
If Stevenson ends up missing time, Henderson will likely take over as the starting running back. While Henderson has the potential to excel, asking him to handle the workload presents quite a tall order.
The Patriots don’t need to add a star running back, but bringing in someone who can contribute to both the running and passing games becomes essential as the season progresses.
