Terrell

Jennings

He didn’t practice today. Landry played 26 snaps against the Chargers last week and would figure to be part of a rotation at EDGE if he were able to go — the Pats have managed him through practices so we’re not surprised to see him on the injury report, but a DNP on Friday is different than the norm for him. Backup RB Terrell Jennings (concussion) is questionable after two full practices on Thursday and Friday and could come off injured reserve tomorrow. Khyiris Tonga (foot) is not on the injury report at all after two full sessions. His return is great news for the New England run defense.

Jennings landed on injured reserve after suffering a concussion back in December. He handled short-yardage rushing duties from roughly Weeks 7-10, but burly RB Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson have seemingly established themselves as a reliable duo for head coach Mike Vrabel. Jennings is a nice backup to have active on game day, though. Jennings was limited on Wednesday.

Jennings was already ruled out for Week 15’s matchup with the Bills, but now he’s set to miss the next four games after being placed on injured reserve. Jennings had already seen his role in the offense evaporate with the return of Rhamondre Stevenson. D’Ernest Johnson will serve as the Patriots’ third running back in Jennings’ absence.

D’Ernest Johnson will be the name that neither Rhamondre Stevenson nor Treyveon Henderson-reliant managers want to see on the field on Sunday.

Jennings’ role has declined in recent weeks with Rhamondre Stevenson healthy once again. Jennings did not touch the ball before the Pats’ bye in Week 14. His likely absence this week will keep New England’s backfield at a two-man committee.

Jennings will give it a go as the Patriots’ short-yardage back, though he is tough to trust as more than a touchdown-dependent FLEX. The Patriots declared DT Joshua Farmer, G Caedan Wallace, QB Tommy DeVito, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, LB Christian Elliss, TE Austin Hooper and WR Kayshon Boutte inactive for Week 11 against the Jets. Stevenson will miss his third straight game with a toe injury, while Boutte will miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury. Last week, rookie WR Kyle Williams scored a 72-yard touchdown by catching one of his two targets. He should be rostered where available, but he makes for a zero-floor, boom-bust FLEX starter this week.

Jennings left Week 10 in the first quarter because of a knee injury and did not return. He has been limited in practice this week and appears to be a true game-time call for Week 11. Jennings will back up rookie TreVeyon Henderson if he is active, but could also steal some work at the goal line. He will be, at best, an RB5 for Week 11.

That’s back-to-back limited sessions for Stevenson, who was spotted working on the side in practice by Patriots beats today. With Terell Jennings (knee, limited) also in question for Thursday night, the Patriots ominously signed Jonathan Ward to their practice squad. It’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility that Stevenson plays on Thursday night, but we’d bet on a questionable tag at this point. The tea leaves of signing Ward leave us thinking one of these two dinged up backs won’t play.

The second-year UDFA got the start over TreVeyon Henderson and was featuring early, albeit in an ineffective fashion. He was then announced as questionable in the second quarter and was ruled out after the break. It has predictably thrust Henderson into a bigger role, though it has also gotten recent signee D’Ernest Johnson onto the field. Failing to return with a knee injury often presages a multi-week absence, so stay tuned.

Stevenson’s absence will again yield a committee of TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings against the Buccaneers. Henderson is the preferred starter in fantasy leagues after playing the majority of the snaps last week. Don’t sleep on a Jennings takeover in the red zone though, and he is RB3/deep league FLEX viable against Tampa Bay. The Patriots have never met a running back room they couldn’t turn into a committee.