The Patriots will be without their starting running back against the Browns, and they may be down multiple backs. New England ruled out Damien Harris for Week 10.
Harris is in the Patriots’ concussion protocol after leaving last week’s game. He did not practice this week. While entering the weekend with a questionable designation, Harris will be shelved for at least a game because of his head injury.
This will mean both the run-oriented Patriots and Browns squads will be without their starting backs Sunday. The Pats also have listed Rhamondre Stevenson as questionable due to his status in the protocol. The rookie also sustained a concussion against the Panthers and did not practice this week, but the Pats remain hopeful he can play in the key AFC matchup.
Sunday’s game will nevertheless feature depleted backfields. The Browns have seen COVID-19 reduce theirs essentially to ex-Alliance of American Football performer D’Ernest Johnson, Cleveland’s only active-roster back that did not test positive for COVID-19 this week. Chubb, Demetric Felton and John Kelly did test positive and are out this week. Kareem Hunt remains without a firm return timetable from his calf injury, but the standout backup might be down until December.
As for the Patriots, they have the likes of Brandon Bolden and J.J. Taylor healthy. Harris, however, has gained 547 rushing yards — 400-plus more than the Pats’ second-leading rusher — and scored seven touchdowns in a breakthrough season.
That’s one thing that shocked me the most this week NE new they would probably be without one or both of their RB but they didn’t sign any where they to focused on OBJ
Don’t bet on that case. Bill knows what he has and knows what he is doing. OBJ is done and wasn’t distracting the Pats.
It sounds like the Browns RB room is almost in the same position that the Broncos QB room was in last season when they had to activate a WR with college QB experience off the practice squad to start. Part of the reason that happened was because it was too late to bring in someone from the outside who would have to go through COVID protocols before being allowed to join the team. The Broncos even asked the NFL for permission to allow their assistant coaches to play QB.
He’s about to lose his job to Stevenson anyway. Stevenson is a much more complete back. Harris is a great runner but Stevenson is not far behind him that way and adds some skills catching the ball