Patriots hint at major depth chart change after Rhamondre Stevenson's fumble issues

Any positive momentum the New England Patriots picked up during their win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 has been completely washed away, as three straight losses have everyone on edge. The offense is the biggest reason for these struggles, with running back Rhamondre Stevenson under the microscope.

While Stevenson has been the team's leading rusher and one of just a few skill position players who have looked above average this season, his penchant for fumbling has led to him coughing up the ball once in each of New England's four games. With Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, this run-first attack is starting to flounder.

Head coach Jerod Mayo has been hesitant to make a ton of changes, keeping No. 3 pick Drake Maye on the bench and leaving the starting lineups mostly set in stone. Things could change, however, after their loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Mayo is letting everyone know that Stevenson's job is not safe.

Mayo said that benching Stevenson for Antonio Gibson is "definitely under consideration" after the San Francisco loss, saying that it's hypocritical for them to constantly stress the importance of not fumbling the ball and then keep throwing Stevenson out there. Gibson may give the offense the spark they need.

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo hints Rhamondre Stevenson could be benched

Gibson recorded just under 4,000 yards from scrimmage in his four seasons in Washington, using his skills as both a solid runner and very impressive pass-catcher. Even if Stevenson was not fumbling the ball, Gibson offers more receiving upside for OC Alex Van Pelt.

Stevenson has for a career-best 66.8 yards per game this season, a mark that would put him on pace for 1,100 yards on the ground. What makes a benching difficult, however, is the fact that Stevenson was already locked in as a long-term piece with a big extension.

With a four-year, $36 million contract under his belt, Stevenson and the Patriots are tied together for the foreseeable future. It would take a humungous change in organizational respect for Stevenson to be sent to the bench just a few months after being signed long-term.

Stevenson needs to get his fumble issues under control, as the Patriots don't have the horsepower to compete against some of the best teams in the league without him playing well. Perhaps a stint on the bench might be all he needs to wake up out of his funk.