When the New England Patriots take on the Miami Dolphins this week, running back Rhamondre Stevenson will have a new role. Head coach Jerod Mayo said that Stevenson won’t be starting the game, simply due to the fact that the veteran has fumbled in every game so far.
Mayo is making a statement to the rest of his team with this move. He opened up about the decision and how he came to make it.
“I had a conversation with Rhamondre (Stevenson) and quite frankly this week he won’t be starting,” head coach Jerod Mayo said in the latest episode of “Patriots All Access,” which aired Friday evening. “And I’ll just be very up front and, you know, very transparent. But he will play. And he understands that, you know, he has to protect the football going forward. And it’s a mentality at this point. It’s an awareness at this point. It’s really not much more to do about, you know, technique or anything like that. It’s just knowing, you know, you’re a target on a week-after-week basis as soon as you show that you’re gonna put the ball on the ground.”
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 29: #38 of the New England Patriots carries the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. Stevenson will have a new role this weekend.
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
The struggles of Stevenson to begin the new season have been a little weird, considering what he has done previously. He has been one of the more consistent players for New England during his tenure and even landed a new four-year extension with the organization this offseason.
Nobody has been harder on the running back than himself. He knows he can be better and is looking forward to the challenge of doing so.
“I’m super tough on myself,” Stevenson told ESPN’s Mike Reiss on Wednesday. “I’m more disappointed in myself than anyone could ever be. It’s very simple: I just have to hold on to the ball and have that mentality to come up with the ball every time. It’s my job to do that and I haven’t been doing it well.”
So far this season, Stevenson has rushed for 267 yards on the ground with two scores. If he is to earn his starting job back, a strong performance this weekend could help his cause.
New England has now lost three straight games since winning in Week 1 and they hold a record of 1-3. The season is quickly slipping away from them but getting a win over a division rival could change things.
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