Patriots Maintain Rhamondre Stevenson Role Despite Multiple Fumbles

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has made it clear that despite running back Rhamondre Stevenson's ongoing ball security issues, he will not face discipline or be benched at this point in the 2025 season. Stevenson, who led all running backs with seven fumbles in 2024 and has continued to struggle with turnovers early this season, remains integral to the Patriots' offense due to the lack of viable alternatives in the backfield. Vrabel compared Stevenson's situation to that of quarterback Drake Maye, who also committed turnovers but was not replaced, emphasizing the need for the team's best players to play and improve rather than be sidelined. While Stevenson's fumbles have contributed to critical losses, including a pivotal Week 3 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers, his overall performance, including significant yardage and pass-blocking capabilities, supports Vrabel's decision to maintain his role. The coach also noted that fixing these issues requires improvement from the entire team, not just the player fumbling the ball. Ultimately, the Patriots' roster limitations have forced Vrabel to prioritize talent retention over enforcing the strict "Patriot Way" discipline once synonymous with the franchise.