THE APEX TIMES
Patriots scouting report: Lan Larison eyes the RB3 role as depth behind Stevenson and Henderson remains unsettled
New England’s rushing depth chart is anchored at the top, but the Patriots’ third running back spot appears to be up for grabs as the team heads into 2026.
The New England Patriots are entering the 2026 season with what one preview describes as a strong running back foundation, featuring Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson as the likely top of the depth chart. With those two framed as roster locks and a potentially explosive one-two punch, the question shifts to what happens after them, specifically who can claim the RB3 role and provide reliable snaps behind the starters.
In a Patriots scouting report published by Yahoo Sports, Lan Larison is highlighted as taking aim at that RB3 opening. The report positions Larison as part of the group being evaluated to determine whether New England can restore more depth and carry value into the season beyond its top tandem.
The same preview underscores the uncertainty by pointing to how limited recent “backup” production has been in NFL games and offensive snaps. As described in the report, the current composition of running back backups combined for a total of 10 NFL games and 77 offensive snaps, and that experience is attributed in the piece to Terrell Jennings.
That context matters because the Patriots’ ability to keep their top backs fresh will depend on the quality of the next option on the depth chart. Even if Stevenson and Henderson remain the core of the workload plan, a third back who can hold up on early-down volume, handle changes in game scripts, and contribute on short-yardage plays can define a team’s late-season operational stability.
For Larison, the RB3 competition is less about beating the incumbents and more about proving that he can separate himself from a shallow pool of recent in-game reps. The Yahoo Sports report treats the job as a competition for immediate roster value, with the team looking for a player who can translate practice intent into consistent usage when called upon.
What to watch next is how New England’s coaching staff sorts the third spot as training camp and preseason evaluations narrow the field. While Stevenson and Henderson are presented as the reliable centerpieces, the Patriots will still need clarity on the backfield order, especially if injuries, matchup needs, or game-plan adjustments require a deeper rotation.
Until New England’s internal pecking order becomes clearer on the field, the third running back position will remain the central “depth” storyline in this preview, with Larison’s candidacy standing out against a backdrop of limited accumulated backup snap history described by Yahoo Sports.
Why It Matters
- A clear RB3 hierarchy helps determine how the Patriots manage workload, game script, and in-season adaptation when top starters are not fully available or need protection from overuse.
- If the third back cannot consistently contribute, it can force New England toward a thinner rotation and increase risk of performance drop when starters exit.
- For players like Larison, the RB3 battle is a direct path to earned roster value, snap trust, and long-term depth planning.
Key Facts
- Yahoo Sports’ Patriots scouting report previews the RB depth chart entering 2026 and focuses on who fits best behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.
- The report frames Stevenson and Henderson as roster locks and characterizes them as a potentially impactful one-two combination.
- Lan Larison is specifically described as taking aim at the RB3 spot.
- The preview states that the current group of running back backups collectively has 10 NFL games and 77 offensive snaps.
- Yahoo Sports attributes that backup experience to Terrell Jennings.