New England Patriots rookies and veterans will soon report back to Gillette Stadium as training camp is set to kick off. For the now Mike Vrabel-led Patriots, their first practice of the summer will begin on Wednesday, July 23 at 10:30 a.m. ET.
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Before the players and coaches take the field, our preview series will continue with New England’s running back position.
Depth chart
Starters: Rhamondre Stevenson*, TreVeyon Henderson* (R) | Backups: Antonio Gibson*, Lan Larison* (U-R), Terrell Jennings, Trayveon Williams
New England enters the season returning their top two backs (Stevenson, Gibson) from last season while also adding an explosive playmaker in the NFL Draft in TreVeyon Henderson. As Henderson and his 4.43-second speed will push for as much playing time as possible out of the gate, time will tell how much he eats into Stevenson’s and specifically Gibson’s workload as the two share similar playing styles.
With Josh McDaniels expected to run his fair share of two-back personnel groupings, UDFA Lan Larison is also a name to watch in the backfield after he led the FCS in all-purpose yards last season. The UC Davis product has a dual-threat skillset that projects well to McDaniels’ offense as well as special teams ability.
Key Question: Can Rhamondre Stevenson bounce back behind an improved offensive line?
Following Stevenson’s breakout 2022 season in which he compiled over 1,400 yards from scrimmage, New England’s lead back has posted just 857 and 969 scrimmage yards over the last two years, respectively. And after signing a four-year extension last offseason, Stevenson struggled with ball security issues as he fumbled seven times.
The challenging season can not be solely blamed on the back, however, as Stevenson was running behind an offensive line that ranked dead-last in run-blocking win rate. With personnel additions along the line and Josh McDaniels returning with his highly successful run scheme, Stevenson looks primed to bounce back as New England’s early-down back. Mike Vrabel seems to be counting on such.
“When you start to evaluate this season and you watch the effort that he played with when he didn’t have the football, he played extremely fast without the football,” Vrabel said back in May. “His ability to step up and protect is taking care of a teammate. It’s protecting the guy with the ball. He did that on numerous occasions. You always saw him downfield when he didn’t have the ball. So, he’s going to be a large part of what we do.”
X-Factor: TreVeyon Henderson
No surprise here after the Patriots made Henderson the 38th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. For a team that was desperate for offensive talent and explosive playmakers last season, the dynamic Henderson brings a dual-threat skillset that is a big-play waiting to happen to the offense. His ability as a runner and pass catcher (and pass blocker) should led to him having an immediate role and being a strong complement to Stevenson.
