The Patriots were bound to have some issues going into the 2025 season, as they are still rebuilding their roster and hoping to be a competitive team sooner rather than later. They have accomplished that to a degree, especially following a big win over the Bills on their home turf, but they haven't yet overcome a few struggles that need to be put in the past before they can be considered a trusted team.
The biggest problem continues to be ball security, particularly with running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who has now lost three fumbles in three games. He isn't the only one turning the ball over, but he has been the most egregious, with multiple fumbles in the red zone.
It has prompted numerous calls from fans for the veteran to be benched, which was heard loud and clear during the Sunday Night Football matchup in Week 5, and that remains the case even after he scored the game's only two touchdowns.
The problem for those who want to see Stevenson ride the bench, though, is that Mike Vrabel has no intention of making that happen, as he continues to stress just how important he is to the offense, and not just out of the backfield.
Mike Vrabel continues to refuse benching Rhamondre Stevenson despite fumbling issue
Because it has become the hottest topic surrounding the team as of late, Vrabel had to answer questions about his decision to keep Stevenson in the starting lineup, or even just on the field, after fumbling the football again on Sunday night.
During his weekly appearance on WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show," he emphasized the importance of the running back to the entire offense, particularly as a blocker, and stated that he will continue to be utilized moving forward.
“We go with all of them, and we’ll use all of them. He’s valuable in protection, and when teams start blitzing and heat this up, it’s critical that somebody protects the quarterback. And they can go short-yardage instances and around the goal line, and we mix carries up. So everybody’s going to have a role, and we’ll have to continue to take care of the ball. And so you have to make those decisions.”
It's hard to argue against what Vrabel is saying, especially when we have all witnessed the kind of player that Stevenson can be when he's not a liability when on the field.
The head coach also acknowledged this in his answer, stressing how much Stevenson understands the importance of ball security and that they are constantly working on it to ensure it doesn't happen again. We haven't seen that come to fruition just yet, but hopefully, it will come soon.
“I think Rhamondre understands how critical the ball is, but we’ve got to start putting that fire out and making sure that until we’re back in the huddle that that ball remains in our possession. Whether we’re going down or we’re close to the ground. We’re going to need them all. We’re going to need everybody, and we’re going to need especially all the backs in that room to help us.”
It's certainly nice to hear that they're putting in the work to avoid the fumbling to happen again in the future, but at the same time, it's far from guaranteed, and at this point, Stevenson has proven himself to be an inconsistent ball carrier in that regard.
So it doesn't feel completely out of line for fans to question Vrabel's decision about keeping him in the lineup, mainly when they selected TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of this year's draft and he has barely been used in any capacity.
Perhaps the loss of Antonio Gibson will change things, but for now, it seems like the best thing to do is prepare for Stevenson to remain a starter and just cross your fingers that he won't fumble anymore this season.