“You’re either going to learn how to hold onto the football, or someone else is going to have it, or you’re going to be somewhere else.”
Mike Vrabel and several Patriots players offered up support for Rhamondre Stevenson after the running back was knocked for a pair of fumbles during Sunday’s loss to the Steelers.
But, Stevenson didn’t mince words Sunday when asked about his job security after another game plagued by turnovers.
“I’ve gotta hold onto the ball to have value,” Stevenson said in New England’s locker room. “If I can’t hold the ball, then they don’t need me.”
As evidenced by Stevenson’s standout performance in the Patriots’ Week 2 win against the Dolphins (142 combined yards), the veteran back still offers plenty of value to a Patriots offense short on playmakers beyond Drake Maye.
But, a Patriots team already operating with a small margin for error also can’t afford to have Stevenson continue to put the ball on the ground in critical situations.
Stevenson’s fumbling issues has been an ongoing fault in the running back’s game, as he was on the hook for seven turnovers during the 2024 season.
Speaking on NBC Sports Boston’s “Patriots Postgame Live” show on Sunday, former Patriots executive Scott Pioli said that Stevenson still should be afforded the opportunity to get his game right. But, he was frank about the thin ice that Stevenson is now walking across after Sunday’s setback.
“It’s Game 3, and you are only going to get so many chances,” Pioli said of Stevenson’s spot on the depth chart. “To me, Rhamondre Stevenson is a terrific back. But if he’s not going to hold onto the ball … [the Patriots will say], ‘We’re going to give someone else a chance.’”
The Patriots have other options in place if they do opt to either cut down Stevenson’s snaps or decide to move on entirely from him in the coming weeks.
But, Antonio Gibson was also knocked for a fumble (New England’s fifth turnover of the night) during Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh, while rookie TreVeyon Henderson may not be ready to take on the full workload assigned to a No. 1 back in the NFL ranks.
Even with Henderson’s impressive performance during both training camp and preseason action, he’s had a slow start to the 2025 season. He has gained 65 yards off of 19 carries through three games, while also having some struggles in pass protection.
In an ideal situation, the Patriots can utilize both Henderson and a pass-catching back in Gibson in certain packages, especially during third-down scenarios or on plays where New England can utilize Henderson’s speed.
But, that hierarchy only becomes feasible if Stevenson is in place as New England’s go-to back — a reality that became a lot murkier on Sunday after his ball-security woes resurfaced in Foxborough.
“So, you’re either going to learn how to hold onto the football, or someone else is going to have it, or you’re going to be somewhere else,” Pioli said of Stevenson, adding: “That was the rule: ‘We’ll get it fixed. If we don’t, we’ll find someone else to do your job. I ain’t mad at you. We’ll just find someone to do your job.’”