After a promising first season with the New England Patriots, Rhamondre Stevenson developed into a valuable component of their running back room and was in line for another standout campaign. Prior to this campaign, the Patriots had to restrict the quarterback in training camp to manage his workload.
The Patriots star reportedly missed the team’s preseason practice again, leaving his supporters concerned about his involvement in the regular season games. Meanwhile, an update on his status allowed followers to breathe a sigh of relief.
Rhamondre Stevenson expected to start vs. the Eagles
The Patriots will kick off their campaign against the Philadelphia Eagles at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. Though Stevenson’s status was in doubt before the game because he skipped the team’s practice, the running back is now anticipated to participate in the first game of the season, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald.
Despite the fact that the versatile running back could not demonstrate much of his value in his rookie season, his second season with the Patriots saw him bring a significant amount of depth to their offense. He has accumulated 1,461 yards and six touchdowns while maintaining a running grade of 80 or higher over the last two seasons.
By dint of his three-down ability, he probably had an impact on New England’s decision to allow Damien Harris to leave in free agency.
Rhamondre Stevenson missed team practice
The New England Patriots have only two running back on the roster. So, Stevenson was set to lead the backfield of the Patriots as the backup of veteran Ezekiel Elliott and in this process, the player was busy practicing on Wednesday and Thursday.
Yet, the well-rounded running back had to skip Friday’s non-padded practice due to a stomach bug. The 25-year-old was not included on the injury list because he had 48 hours to recover, allowing the Patriots to make a judgment about his status.
The practice was also missed by cornerback Jack Jones and quarterback Matt Corral. Corral’s absence from practice is currently unknown, while Jones’ absence was reportedly due to a hamstring ailment.
However, Rhamondre Stevenson has already demonstrated his adaptability and effectiveness. The running back is beginning his third season, and this year, the Patriots’ RB 2 is anticipated to have a greater impact on the offense.
