The New England Patriots have been busy this offseason trying to improve a Super Bowl roster that fell far short against the Seattle Seahawks. One area they dramatically improved is the wide receiver unit with superstar A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs entering the picture.
An under-the-radar position that should also be closely monitored during training camp is the running backs. The top two spots are set, but the depth positions aren't. The fight for the third and fourth spots will be ones to watch this summer.
Rhamondre Stevenson is a steady, dependable early-down back. TreVeyon Henderson complements him well with explosive speed and take-it-to-the-house potential on any play. Together, they could form one of the NFL's best running back tandems in 2026.
Behind them, though, are a lot of question marks.
The Patriots' training camp battle at No. 3 running back is one fans shouldn't ignore
With their top two running backs solidified, the Patriots are fairly well-situated. But backs get dinged up, and having NFL-capable depth is essential during any 17-game-plus season. The third back will be called upon and there is currently no clear frontrunner. The backup positions will be hotly contested with some interesting candidates.
Among the competitors for the third game day roster position is returning third-year veteran Terrell Jennings. He's a waiver-wire type, who did little in 2025 with a mere 23 attempts for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Next up on the list, however, is a real competitor in undrafted free agent Lan Larison.
Larison is a dual-threat back who's equally effective both carrying the ball and catching it, as he demonstrated in his 2024 monster season at UC-Davis. Unfortunately, he was injured early in the preseason and missed all of 2025. His first major challenge is to stay on the field. If he's healthy, he'll be a top threat to Jennings and anyone else in the competition for that third back spot.
Another main competitor will be 2026 seventh-round draft pick Jam Miller from Alabama. He's a stout inside runner who would likely be Stevenson's backup or replacement if active on game day.
Then, there's 2026 undrafted free agent Myles Montgomery from UCF. He received the largest UDFA contract in team history. It says something about how highly the team thinks of him. Yet, this competition will be decided on the field.
The doors are wide open for both the third and fourth running back spots on the Patriots' initial 53-man roster, and the competition should be fierce starting with Day 1 of camp.
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