The New England Patriots have a bit of a dilemma on their hands.

Rhamondre Stevenson is the team’s highest-paid and most productive running back. The fifth-year veteran, who signed a four-year, $36 million contract extension with New England last summer, leads the Patriots with 225 yards from scrimmage (87 rushing, 138 receiving). He amassed 142 all-purpose yards in a Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins.

But Stevenson also has a nasty habit of giving the ball to the other team. He committed two of New England’s five turnovers in Sunday’s loss to the Steelers — a fumble on the Patriots’ opening drive that led to a Pittsburgh touchdown, and a fumble right at the goal line that wiped a game-tying TD off the scoreboard — and now has nine turnovers in his last 15 games.

So, should head coach Mike Vrabel bench Stevenson to send a message about ball security, or ride it out with his bell-cow back and hope Stevenson’s fumbling issues don’t crop up this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers?

Patriots Insider Phil Perry is in favor of Option A, and explained why on the latest Patriots Talk Podcast.

“As good a player as he can be when he’s at his best, I think you can still compete without him. I do,” Perry told co-host Tom E. Curran. “I think Antonio Gibson gives you a representative, NFL-caliber, between-the-tackles running back who measures about six feet, about 225 pounds. That, to me, would be the simple fix.”

For what it’s worth, Gibson also fumbled last Sunday. But it was just his third turnover since the beginning of last season (a span of 20 games), and to Perry’s point, the six-year veteran is a very capable back who has averaged 4.5 yards per carry (596 yards on 133 attempts) over that 20-game span.

By benching Stevenson in favor of Gibson this Sunday, Perry argues, Vrabel can deliver a message of accountability to his players without significantly jeopardizing his team’s chances of winning.

“Even if it’s not to the same degree that Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels believe — because everybody sees Rhamondre Stevenson as sort of this next-level talent — you are still competing, and you’re holding a highly-paid player accountable,” Perry added.

“You’re sending a message to your locker room that this stuff can’t stand: ‘The stuff that we go over in film when we’re talking about the good, the bad and the bleep that gets you beat — if you’re performing the bleep that gets you beat on a regular basis, we have to move on, at least for the time being.'”

As Perry pointed out, benching Stevenson doesn’t have to be a long-term solution.

“It doesn’t mean put him away in storage for the rest of the season. It doesn’t mean cut the guy,” Perry added. “It just means, for this week … you go with Gibson as the primary guy, with TreVeyon Henderson continuing on in his sort of sub-back role.”

Vrabel has been supportive of Stevenson in the wake of the running back’s miscues, so whether he opts for this path in Week 4 remains to be seen.

Also in this episode:

How does Mike Vrabel handle holding his players accountable? 

Are the Patriots a good team?

A look at the points the Patriots ALMOST had.

What Drake Maye can fix from Steelers game.