Patriots Boost Veteran RB D'Ernest Johnson Ahead of Sunday's Game vs. Falcons
The New England Patriots have bolstered their backfield by elevating veteran running back D'Ernest Johnson to the 53-man roster, paving the way for his potential debut on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
With starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson nursing a toe injury, the Patriots have turned to Johnson, a seven-year NFL veteran with extensive experience in the league. This addition comes as the team seeks to address the depth of their running back corps, which has been depleted by injuries to key players such as Antonio Gibson and Stevenson.
Johnson's inclusion on the roster could provide a significant boost to the Patriots' offense, particularly if he sees action on either offense or special teams. The veteran has experience returning kicks in the NFL, which could make him an attractive option for the Patriots, who have been searching for a reliable kick returner since Gibson suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
The Patriots have elevated Henderson as the primary running back for Sunday's game, but Johnson's addition raises questions about his role and potential involvement in the backfield moving forward. With the trade deadline looming on Tuesday, there remains a possibility that the team could explore trading for additional talent to bolster their running back corps. However, unless Stevenson's injury keeps him sidelined for an extended period, adding another running back might not be as pressing of a priority.
On Sunday, Henderson, Terrell Jennings, and Johnson will look to help the Patriots continue their winning streak, which currently stands at five games. The game is set to kick off at 1 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.
The New England Patriots have bolstered their backfield by elevating veteran running back D'Ernest Johnson to the 53-man roster, paving the way for his potential debut on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
With starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson nursing a toe injury, the Patriots have turned to Johnson, a seven-year NFL veteran with extensive experience in the league. This addition comes as the team seeks to address the depth of their running back corps, which has been depleted by injuries to key players such as Antonio Gibson and Stevenson.
Johnson's inclusion on the roster could provide a significant boost to the Patriots' offense, particularly if he sees action on either offense or special teams. The veteran has experience returning kicks in the NFL, which could make him an attractive option for the Patriots, who have been searching for a reliable kick returner since Gibson suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
The Patriots have elevated Henderson as the primary running back for Sunday's game, but Johnson's addition raises questions about his role and potential involvement in the backfield moving forward. With the trade deadline looming on Tuesday, there remains a possibility that the team could explore trading for additional talent to bolster their running back corps. However, unless Stevenson's injury keeps him sidelined for an extended period, adding another running back might not be as pressing of a priority.
On Sunday, Henderson, Terrell Jennings, and Johnson will look to help the Patriots continue their winning streak, which currently stands at five games. The game is set to kick off at 1 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.
D'Ernest Johnson looks like he's gonna bring some serious heat to the Patriots' backfield! 
With Stevenson out, it'll be interesting to see how Henderson and Jennings hold up. But honestly, adding a veteran like Johnson could make all the difference. I'm lovin' the move by Belichick 
#PatriotsNation #RBdepth #DErnestJohnson #NFL
! he's got some serious experience under his belt and i think he could bring a new dynamic to the patriots' offense 
. plus, he can return kicks which is super important for a team like theirs that's been searching for a reliable kick returner 
. i'm curious to see how head coach bill belichick will use him in the lineup though 
. and fingers crossed that rhamondre stevenson gets healthy soon so we don't have to worry about them scrambling for another running back 
. it's gonna be a great game on sunday!
. been a while since they've had some depth issues with RBs, so hopefully it doesn't affect their running game too much 
. Patterson's been doing well as #1 back, but I'm curious to see how Johnson fits into the equation 
. could be nice to have another option if Patterson gets hurt 
. might also give them some versatility on special teams, which is always a bonus 
️!
. And can we talk about how exciting it is that Johnson has experience returning kicks? That's like, a whole new dimension of skillset 
! As long as Henderson and Jennings are doing their thing, I'm all for this new addition to shake things up on offense... Bring on Sunday and let's see what this guy can do!!! 
. I mean, yeah, he's got experience, but can he really lead the team to a win against the Falcons? 
They need to see how he'll perform under pressure before they start relying on him big time 
. Plus, with Rhamondre Stevenson potentially returning soon, it might not be as urgent for them to make a trade 
. Still, it's an interesting move and I'm curious to see how it plays out 
!
. It's like, why mess with a good thing? And what's the point of bringing in someone who's basically gonna be the same backfield depth that's been getting them beat all season 
hopefully he can help Rhamondre Stevenson out when he's back from toe injury 
, five games in a row is crazy 
. and yeah i dont think they're gonna trade for another rb unless stevensons is out for a while... the patriots are good at making clutch moves, remember when u guys got mac jones? 
. I mean, what makes them think he's gonna bring a new level of production to their offense? And let's be real, they're basically giving him a roster spot just because Stevenson got hurt and not because they think he's a game-changer... This might be a move that ends up costing them more than it helps