The New England Patriots’ win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 2 was one of the best games of Rhamondre Stevenson’s NFL career. The fifth-year running back was a dual-threat weapon for his team’s offense, finishing with 142 scrimmage yards and a two-point conversion.
The arrow seemed to pointing straight up. Then came Week 3.
Stevenson fumbled on the Patriots’ first drive against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and then again at the 1-yard line in the early third quarter. Both of the loose balls recovered by the Steelers, and ultimately were crucial plays in New England’s 21-14 defeat.
While the Patriots as a whole suffered five turnovers versus Pittsburgh, Stevenson’s are arguably more concerning than those by quarterback Drake Maye or fellow running back Antonio Gibson. In 2024, after all, ball security was a major issue for the former fourth-round draft pick: Stevenson fumbled seven times last year, the highest such number among all NFL running backs.
Three weeks into the 2025 season, the concerns about him holding onto the ball are a major talking point again. The more important one, however, is this: will he be able to fix it? That is one of the questions in this week’s Pats Pulpit Reacts survey.
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