The New England Patriots have transitioned to a more balanced offensive attack after Tom Brady’s departure.
Mac Jones’ instability in his first two seasons has led to a greater reliance on the running game.
Rhamondre Stevenson has taken over as the team’s lead back, getting 60% of the team’s rushing carries in 2022.
Now that Damien Harris is gone, that number is only expected to climb this season.
Despite Stevenson’s role being cemented in this offense, he has seen a notable lack of reps during the early stages of training camp.
When asked about this in a recent press conference, per NBC Sports Boston, Stevenson said, “You gotta ask Bill Belichick, I don’t know why I’m not practicing today.”
Rhamondre Stevenson: "Honestly, you gotta ask Bill Belichick, I don't know why I'm not practicing today" 😅 pic.twitter.com/xTkzPoZyRO
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) August 2, 2023
Whether it’s a load-management strategy or another rationale, Stevenson isn’t getting the number of reps he’d prefer.
Belichick hasn’t responded to Stevenson regarding his comments, so at this time, his reasoning is unclear.
After missing the playoffs in two of the last three seasons, the Patriots may need to change a few things to keep up with the evolving nature of the league.
The NFL has transformed into a pass-heavy league, and having a dominant quarterback is more important now than ever.
Even though this is the case, the Patriots have been rumored to be in the Dalvin Cook sweepstakes, which could be one reason for the diminished work.
Even if the team signs Cook, Stevenson could still have a monumental role in the offense, if for nothing more than to split carries with his new running mate.
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