Rhamondre Stevenson reportedly set to miss time after suffering ankle injury in Patriots-Chargers

New England’s most productive offensive player left the Week 13 game against the Chargers in the first quarter.

Update 12/3/2023: Rhamondre Stevenson injury: Patriots running back reportedly set to miss time despite negative X-rays

After leaving Sunday’s game early, New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson’s initial X-ray on his injured ankle came back negative.

According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the back is still scheduled to miss time — “possibly multiple games” — as he will now undergo an MRI which will likely show a sprain.

“Just thinking about him,” fellow running back Ezekiel Elliott said after the game. “Hoping for the best.”

With Stevenson sideline, Elliott handled the majority of snaps the rest of the game despite entering Sunday with a thigh injury. The veteran back finished with 52 rushing yards on 17 carries, adding another 40 yards on four receptions.

The Patriots now prepare for a short week in which they’ll travel to Pittsburgh for Thursday night, putting Stevenson’s availability in doubt.

Update 12/3/2023: Rhamondre Stevenson injury: Patriots running back ruled out of Chargers game with ankle injury

While originally listing him as questionable to return to their Week 13 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the New England Patriots have now downgraded running back Rhamondre Stevenson. The fourth-year man will not return due to the ankle injury suffered in the first quarter, the team announced at the half.

Also not returning will be Shaun Wade. The third-year cornerback is dealing with an illness.

Original story 12/3/2023: Rhamondre Stevenson injury: Patriots running back leaves Chargers game with ankle injury

The New England Patriots’ offense has had to deal with quite a bit of adversity this season, and things continued in Week 13. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson had to leave the team’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers due to an ankle injury.

The injury happened in the late first quarter. Stevenson, who had looked good while gaining 40 yards on his first eight carries, was tackled in the backfield on a 2nd-and-5. He did not only lose the football — a fumble that was recovered by the Chargers — but also remained on the ground and had to be helped off the field by members of the training staff.

Stevenson departed for the locker room shortly thereafter and was announced as questionable to return.

Stevenson, 25, has been the Patriots’ most productive player on the offensive side of the ball so far this season. Appearing in all 12 of the team’s games, he had touched the ball 194 times when he was injured for a combined 858 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns — leading New England in all three categories.

The third-year man started the season comparatively quietly, but he managed to hit his stride over the last three games: Stevenson gained more than 100 yards in each of those contests, marking the first time in his career he accomplished that feat. He was well on his way to surpass the century mark against the Chargers as well.

With him out of the game and a return seemingly unlikely, the Patriots turned to Ezekiel Elliott as the next man up at running back. They also have Ty Montgomery on their game day roster as additional depth.