Rhamondre Stevenson OUT, Antonio Gibson IN For Patriots

This season, the New England Patriots have fallen short of the high standards set during the Belichick-Brady era. With just one win in their first four games, the offense has struggled mightily. While much of the attention has been on the quarterback position, with Jacoby Brissett continuing to start over third overall pick Drake Maye, the focus has recently shifted to the running back position. Head Coach Jerod Mayo has made the decision to bench starter Rhamondre Stevenson.

Despite Stevenson’s undeniable talent, ball security has become a major issue for him. He has fumbled four times in as many games this season, adding to his total of 11 fumbles over his four NFL seasons. These turnovers have put the Patriots in difficult situations, and while Stevenson is seen as a valuable asset, his mistakes have proven costly. As a result, Mayo announced that former Washington running back Antonio Gibson will start this week after making an impact in limited action last Sunday. Gibson had three catches for 67 yards and chipped in 12 rushing yards as well.

Gibson, now in his fifth NFL season, has long been a dual-threat option, surpassing 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of his first two seasons. Now, he takes the lead role in the Patriots' offense as they prepare to face a Miami defense that has struggled with tackling, currently ranked fifth-worst by PFF. Gibson’s powerful running style could take advantage of this weakness, and given Stevenson’s turnover issues, this change seems like the right call for New England.