The Patriots (4-11) have one of many worst offenses within the league, and it appears like issues are solely going to worsen after it was introduced they’re shutting down arguably their finest participant on offense.
New England is putting RB Rhamondre Stevenson on injured reserve, ending his 2023 season, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The third-year operating again final performed within the workforce’s Week 13 loss to the Chargers when he suffered an ankle harm that was alleged to sideline him for “just a few weeks.”
Stevenson might have been in a position to return if the Patriots’ season was going in a different way, nevertheless it is sensible to close him down for the yr since being eradicated from playoff competition.
It is actually a blow to the offense, which has averaged the least factors per sport (14.1) and fifth-least whole yards per sport (285.5) within the league.
Veteran RB Ezekiel Elliott has been enjoying nicely in Stevenson’s absence with 549 yards and two touchdowns on the bottom. However Stevenson nonetheless leads New England in dashing yards (619) and dashing touchdowns (4) regardless of solely enjoying in 12 video games.
Nonetheless, it has been a disappointing season for Stevenson after posting a career-high 1,040 dashing yards and 6 whole touchdowns in 2022. He should now wait till the 2024 season to make his case for a contract extension.
The 2021 fourth-round decide will enter the ultimate yr of his rookie deal subsequent season. He must proceed proving he’s a useful piece to the offense because the operating again place has by no means been valued lower than it’s now.
The Patriots are actually left to face two of the top 10 defenses in whole yards allowed per sport (9-6 Payments and 6-9 Jets) with out Stevenson. It would not be shocking in the event that they lose out, placing themselves in an awesome spot to have a top-five draft decide come April.