Damien Harris’ injury-riddled day against the Houston Texans leaves a cause for concern at the running back position for the New England Patriots.
The third-year back, who’s the team’s outright starter, left the game early with a chest injury and exited for good later on with a rib injury. There’s no official update yet, but the feeling around the team is that Harris will be fine moving forward.
Taking Harris out the equation, the Patriots are left with Rhamondre Stevenson, Brandon Bolden and J.J. Taylor at the position.
Stevenson, who was benched after a Week 1 fumble, didn’t play with the same intensity against the Texans that he had in the preseason. Running back coach Ivan Fears chimed in on the topic during a press conference on Tuesday.
Ivan Fears: “Rhamondre started out too cautious. He was almost very nervous to carry the ball. We can’t play that way … He turned it loose (at the end), didn’t he? We’re going to get the cow bell going with that boy. He’s going to turn it loose and we’re going to be all right.”
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 12, 2021
Fears also elaborated on Harris’ ball security that has been an issue in key moments this season.
Teaming up with @anmis for a chat with Patriots RBs coach Ivan Fears on Damien Harris and ball security … as the coaches tape didn’t provide a great shot for Fears to assess Harris’ fundamentals at the goal-line. pic.twitter.com/vIkvzgHQUJ
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 12, 2021
The Patriots’ pass attack is coming alive, but the rushing attack will need to relevant also for Mac Jones to put points on the board this season.
