LANDOVER, MD – AUGUST 25: Terrell Jennings #29 of the New England Patriots carries the ball against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter of a preseason game at Commanders Field on August 25, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Terrell Jennings #29 of the New England Patriots carries the ball against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter of a preseason game at Commanders Field on August 25, 2024 in Landover, Maryland.

It was a tough sidebar to an otherwise outstanding Patriots performance in Buffalo on Sunday, when New England downed the previously undefeated Bills–who had won 14 straight at home–with a dramatic 23-20 win in the waning seconds of the game. But backup running back Antonio Gibson went down with a torn ACL, leaving a hole at a position that has proven to be less of a strength of this team than was expected.

Gibson has been outstanding in the return game, but had tallied 106 yards on the ground, combining with Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie TreVeyon Henderson for 476 yards rushing, which ranks 27th in the NFL.

Now, with Gibson out, the team will turn to Terrell Jennings, who’s primarily been a practice-squad player in two seasons with the team, to fill out the depth chart. But whether Jennings is a solution in a small RB room is questionable.

Patriots Could Explore Free Agency, Trades
The Patriots could explore what figures to be a robust trade market on running backs, or seek to sign a player, either a free-agent without a job or a young player on another practice squad. Coach Mike Vrabel said on Wednesday that the team is open to adding a Gibson replacement–though he couched it by saying they’re open to improving any position on the roster.

Vrabel sounded like a man who is letting others take charge of that mission, though. So the notion of trading for his former star back–Derrick Henry, now with the Ravens–is a longshot.

“We’re continuing – I think they’ll probably, hopefully look everywhere if there’s somebody that we feel like can help us, whether that’s at running back or any other position. But right now, nothing new to add,” Vrabel said.

Antonio Gibson Took Terrell Jennings Under His Wing
It’s likely that the Patriots will at least give Jennings a look, though he does not quite come with the pedigree a typical NFL back would have. Jennings came out of Florida A&M in 2022, and when he was a senior, he was second on the team in rushing yards, with 308 in 10 games.

Vrabel said of Jennings, “I think he’s a great teammate. I think he cares about the team. He’s able to play on special teams. He’s able to play on a fourth down. He’s got a toughness to him. I think he’s improved.”

Jennings revealed, too, that his chance is bittersweet–Gibson had taken him under his wing over the past two years.

“Me and Antonio are actually really close. That’s my locker buddy, as well. I took that hard,” Jennings said. “That’s my brother, I’m with him everyday. To see him go down like that, it hurt me to the core. So I would be wrong if I don’t go down there and do my job to uphold his standard.”

Patriots Need More From Run Game
But Vrabel acknowledged that the running game as a whole needs improvement. Stevenson has had his fumbling issue re-emerge, and Henderson, a much-anticipated rookie, has not thrived as quickly as many thought. It’s also on the run-blocking, which has not been nearly as good as New England’s pass protection this year.

“Just keep working at it. I’m with you. We understand that. It’s got to be better,” Vrabel said. “It has to be better at the line of scrimmage, at the second level, and then continue to try to finish to break some of these. And we’ve had some good runs, just not enough of them. Not enough double-digit runs that help your average.

“So again, I think that we’ve got to stop talking about being one guy away or one block away. I think that was a big theme from last week, and that’ll have to fix.”

Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney