Patriots depth chart pressure mounts behind Stevenson and Henderson as Terrell Jennings eyes the RB3 role

Heading into the third NFL season for Terrell Jennings, the New England Patriots are treating the RB3 spot as a live competition rather than a settled hierarchy. The framework is straightforward. Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson are the Patriots’ featured backfield core, and when they are both healthy and productive, the team’s ground game can carry more weight than it does for franchises that rely on a single workhorse. But the scouting lens shifts quickly when the conversation turns to what happens behind the duo.

A Yahoo Sports preview framed New England’s depth question as one that shows up on the stat sheet. The Patriots have four backup running backs on the roster who have combined for 10 games played in the NFL. That number matters because it is not about who has the most upside in training camp, it is about who has already earned meaningful reps under regular-season pressure. With that profile, any slip in the top two backs’ availability or effectiveness could force the coaching staff to lean on players who have comparatively little game experience.

In that context, Jennings’ RB3 job is not merely an offseason formality. The RB3 role carries the practical responsibility of being the reliable bridge between the starters and whatever the Patriots need to adjust to week-to-week opponents. If the team believes it can keep the offense steady with a rotation in the backfield, the RB3 option becomes part of the game plan rather than a purely situational substitute.

The Patriots’ internal evaluations are likely to emphasize more than carry volume. In a modern NFL rushing attack, the RB3 often functions as a pass-protection contributor, a receiver in space, and a depth option who understands how to keep the rushing identity intact during run-and-rotate sequences. When the players behind the starters have limited combined game exposure, coaches typically scrutinize fundamentals because the margin for mistakes narrows the moment the offense is forced to move off its most proven look.

Stevenson and Henderson are positioned as the stabilizers of the backfield, which is why the spotlight is on what sits immediately behind them. The Patriots’ ability to remain a two-back offense rather than a single-burst offense could hinge on how quickly the team’s depth is ready to absorb carries, targets, and protection reps without forcing the play-calling staff to overcompensate.

At the same time, the reported concern about backup experience does not automatically mean the RB3 role will go to a veteran who has already logged more games elsewhere. NFL depth charts can be influenced by role fit, practice performance, and the specific skill set a staff prioritizes for its offensive scheme. Jennings, as the incumbent in the discussion, will likely need to show that he can handle the RB3 workload if called upon.

For Patriots fans, the early camp and preseason storyline to watch is whether Jennings can separate from the other backup running backs or whether the team finds a clearer depth rotation. If New England’s backfield remains healthy, this becomes an internal competition that shapes the pecking order. If not, it becomes a question of how quickly the Patriots can turn game readiness into production at the depth tier.

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