A.J. Brown’s absence creates a massive hole in the Patriots’ offense, but New England doesn’t necessarily need to replace his production through the air. Rhamondre Stevenson could be the key to unlocking everything the offense was built to do.
Many have suggested a by-committee approach for the New England Patriots as they look to replace wide receiver A.J. Brown over the next several weeks.
Brown’s stint on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain creates a massive hole at the top of the team’s skill-player ranks, but while a rotation of several players (Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams) is the obvious solution to Brown’s absence on the perimeter, the “X” receiver position is not likely to be the primary source of the offense’s workload.
And it may never have been to begin with.
Rather than looking to the boundary for a solution to the Patriots’ production rift, attention should be shifted in another direction entirely… to a place where eyes should have been fixated in the first place. Fans may yearn for weekly herculean performances from Drake Maye and the passing attack, but more realistically — and much more attainably — New England’s ground game will be the engine that drives the bus forward. More specifically: Rhamondre Stevenson.
Stevenson’s tenure in Foxboro has been ripe with highs and lows, from his 1,461 scrimmage-yard performance in 2022 to his seven fumbles in 2024. For many, Stevenson’s accomplishments and accolades have been overshadowed by devastating blunders, detracting fans and media alike from looking in his direction as a primary source of offense. Last season’s addition of TreVeyon Henderson as a backfield running mate put that perspective under a spotlight, as the speedster has been commonly projected as the leader of the room on a national scale.
But that’s never been the feeling inside the walls of Gillette Stadium.
Jan 4, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) acknowledges the crowd after running for a thirty-five yard touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn ImagesEntering 2026, there’s an easy argument to be made that the entire unit has been built around what Stevenson provides for the team. Before the days of Brown, the Patriots’ offseason plan made it evident how much weight the Patriots’ playoff performance held in their roster decisions; improving the offensive line and supplementing the running game was a top priority on offense.
There were the acquisitions of guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, fullback Reggie Gilliam, and tight end Julian Hill (since placed on season-ending injured reserve) — all signed with the intent of revitalizing the Patriots’ efficiency in the running game. Further, a wide receiver corps built of Brown (6’1”, 226 lbs.), Doubs (6’2”, 204 lbs.) and Hollins (6’4”, 221 lbs.) presents a size mismatch in the blocking game on early downs that wasn’t prevalent in years’ past.
During the 2025 regular season, New England finished as a top-10 team in overall rushing yardage (2,191 rushing yards, sixth in the NFL), but ranked in the bottom-10 in efficiency on running plays (-1.54 expected points added, 23rd in the NFL). Their inability to rely consistently on the rushing attack played a major role in Super Bowl LX and reared its head again against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1 of 2026.
The Patriots’ hefty investment to the group surrounding Stevenson resulted in 18 carries for 51 yards (2.8 yards per carry) on Wednesday night, but against a defensive front that ranked first in yards against per rush (3.7), and third in rushing yards against per game (91.9) in 2025, their early-season struggles won’t be a barometer for future success.
After carrying the ball just seven times in February, New England’s commitment to sticking with the rushing attack through the per-carry struggles indicates that Stevenson’s role within the offense will only expand — and yield much greater results — in the coming weeks.
And that may not be such a bad thing at all.
Jan 18, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) moves with the ball in the first quarter in an AFC Divisional Round game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn ImagesOf Stevenson’s 51 rushing yards on Wednesday night, 50(!) came after contact. That follows a trend from last season that saw the veteran back record his best yards-per-rush average (4.6) since 2022, while ranking 40th in the NFL with an average of 1.9 yards before contact, but third in the league with 2.8 yards after contact.
No matter how often Stevenson was being hit at or behind the line of scrimmage, he was consistently finding ways to create positive gains for the team. After returning from injury in Week 12, he became the driving force of the Patriots’ offense through December and January with 87 carries for 496 yards (5.7 yards-per-carry) and four touchdowns from Week 15 through the Super Bowl.
Through one game of his sixth-career season, Stevenson has accrued 3,720 rushing yards and ranks fifth all-time in franchise history. He’ll soon move into fourth place, as Curtis Martin sits just above him with 3,799 rushing yards in his time in Foxboro. Of all running backs with at least 500 rushing attempts for New England, Stevenson ranks first all-time in yards-per-carry average (4.4 yards).
Getting Stevenson to produce more steadily has been a focus for the Patriots all offseason, even if those on the outside refuse to consider him as integral a component to their weekly game plan as he figures to be.
That will also pay dividends in the passing game by setting up a much higher rate of play-action. In 2025, Maye ranked just 22nd in the NFL with a 25.0% play-action dropback percentage (minimum 100 total dropbacks, per PFF). On those plays, Maye was deadly efficient — completing 92 of his 123 passing attempts (74.8% completion percentage), with 1,214 yards (9.9 yards per attempt), 10 touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Stevenson’s effect as a downhill threat to second and third-level defenders will command respect, and open Maye up for more “shot” plays that are predicated around the running back’s success. With imposing bodies on the outside that can sell the run and play away from their frame in the pass, a hefty helping of Stevenson in the running game will do more to set up those highlight deep conversions than anything else New England could scheme for on a weekly basis.
Jan 11, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) rushes during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC Wild Card Round game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesIt may not be the sexiest window-dressing that comes from other offensive minds around the league, but its effectiveness is tried and true. And with all of the focus being placed on Maye, it’ll also be more readily available for the Patriots to take advantage of.
When New England does work the passing game off of the success of the run, Stevenson can still be a threat to move the sticks. In Week 1, he hauled in five passes with 44 yards receiving, and has consistently been a more reliable pass-catching target than credited for in his career.
In 2022, Stevenson set a career-best mark with 69 receptions and 421 receiving yards, and has totalled 191 receptions and 1,339 receiving yards in his career. On 241 targets, his 79.3% reception rate ranks higher than Patriots’ greats James White (74.5%) and Kevin Faulk (75.2%).
The answer to New England’s offensive enigma has been staring everyone in the face since the beginning of the offseason. Whether it’s an unwillingness to see it, or the flash of the deep ball, Stevenson’s continued involvement will alleviate the pressure on everyone around him and elevate other areas of the offense to heights not achievable without proper balance.
Rhamondre Stevenson is the answer, and he always has been.
How do you think Rhamondre Stevenson’s role in the Patriots’ offense will develop in the coming weeks? Do you have confidence that he’ll be able to provide a spark for the team? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.
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