Ever since Patriots running back Antonio Gibson went down with a torn ACL in Week 4 against the Bills, the team has been operating with wafer-thin depth in the running back room. Rhamondre Stevenson is there, as is rookie second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson. And to fill in the third spot behind those two, the Patriots have been elevating practice squadder Terrell Jennings each week to add depth.
But after calling up Jennings in each of the last three weeks, the Patriots now, under NFL rules, need to add him onto the 53-man roster if they want him to be in the backfield again. And coach Mike Vrabel addressed the Jennings situation after Sunday’s 32-13 win over the Browns, the team’s fifth straight victory.
Jennings has played mostly in mop-up duty in blowouts the past two weeks, and has 33 yards on seven carries.
Terrell Jennings Is ‘A Really Good Teammate’
Despite the limited usage, and despite the struggles of Stevenson and Henderson to put together reliable performances as the 1-2 combination, Vrabel said he expects the team will sign Jennings to a standard contract and make him part of the 53-man roster going forward.
“We all want Terrell here,” Vrabel said. “So however we have to handle that; I mean, the only other option is to bring him up. He’s been a good addition. He’s been prepared for his opportunity. Helped on special teams, had a tackle yesterday on kickoff. So those are all really good things.
“I think he’s a good teammate and so, yeah, I think that’s only probably procedural at the end of the week.”
GettyMike Vrabel of the New England Patriots
Patriots Could Make RB Trade
There’s a possibility that Jennings could be the RB3 for the rest of the season for the Patriots, which is an iffy proposition for a team that has been surging up the standings and is currently the No. 2 seed in the AFC. With Gibson out, and with the two running backs–not counting quarterback Drake Maye–averaging 3.7 yards per carry, the Patriots could look to add a back in a trade.
New England has been reluctant to give up draft picks to make the team better in the short-term, and recent reporting suggests that the Patriots are more likely to add a player on defense at the trade deadline than another offensive weapon. But if the Pats can add a starting-caliber back at a cheap price, it’s possible that Jennings would be the guy who wind up being cut.
Patriots Kept Terrell Jennings Despite Roster Overhaul
But that’s a longshot. Fact is, Vrabel likes Jennings, who was among the few to survive the roster overhaul from 2024 to 2025, even though he was a fringe roster guy last year. In fact, the presence of Jennings with the Patriots at all is a surprise.
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. That does not make for a typical background when it comes to NFL running backs. He appeared in three games for the Patriots last season, playing 38 offensive snaps and 18 special teams snaps.
Jennings had 13 carries for 33 yards in 2024. He figures to get more chances once he is signed to the roster–assuming he can stick past the trade deadline.
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