Patriots: Damien Harris’ fumbling issues put his status as bell cow back in question

This could be the second game Damien Harris costs the New England Patriots. He already lost them Week 1 when he fumbled in the red zone to give the Dolphins the ball back with three minutes remaining when Miami possessed the lead.

Since that day when Harris registered 23 carries, he’s totaled 26 over the following three weeks. Then, in Week 5, it appeared as if Bill Belichick would go back to the Alabama bruiser for the gameplan against the Houston Texans.

The early returns were solid. Harris logged seven carries for 21 yards and a touchdown. But on his eight carry? A six-yard touchdown rush turned into a five-yard run with a fumble at the goal line after review.

Harris was inches away from his second touchdown of the day and potentially giving the team a lead, but he wasn’t protecting the ball. Again. For reasons we cannot understand.

Damien Harris had another unforgivable fumble that cost the Patriots.

Quite frankly, though the Harris hype train took off last year because, for a stretch, he was one of the most promising aspects of a terrible Patriots team, he really hasn’t done enough to be the everyday, 20-carry back that the offense needs.

He has four career 100-yard games. He clearly has ball security issues when he’s tasked with shouldering the load in the running game. He’s had problems in pass protection, too. And if the Patriots lose to the Texans today, though the defense will surely be to blame, Harris’ costly fumble will be viewed as the turning point that ultimately shifted the momentum too far in the other direction in a week the Pats were missing their entire offensive line and some key defenders.

Harris is a young player with plenty of room to grow, but his lapses are very uncharacteristic for a starter on a Patriots team that doesn’t necessarily accept such mistakes.

It’s unfortunate, but as this franchise turns a corner in the post-Tom Brady era, there’s little room for setbacks, and with Harris under contractual control for just one more season, it’s not out of the question for the Patriots to once again reassess their situation in the backfield.

Patriots RBs coach rips Damien Harris for game-altering fumble vs Dolphins

New England Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears ripped Damien Harris for his game-altering fumble against the Dolphins on Sunday.