How Patriots move forward with Damien Harris ruled out against Raiders

The Patriots will be without Damien Harris in Week 15. How will they move forward with their limited depth at running back?

The New England Patriots will be without running back Damien Harris again as they face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15. Harris has been inactive since suffering a thigh injury against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12.

Before his injury, Harris had recorded 383 rushing yards on 84 attempts and three rushing touchdowns.

With Harris out, the Patriots have relied on fellow running back Rhamondre Steveson to carry the rushing workload on the offense until Stevenson suffered an ankle injury in the Monday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Stevenson has missed two practices this week and was limited for a third. He leads the team in receptions (58), rushing yards (742), and total touchdowns (5).

Steveson is listed as questionable for Week 15.

Who will step up in the Patriots’ offense with Damien Harris out?

In that same Monday Night game, there was an emergence from the Patriots’ rookie running backs, Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong Jr.

Harris and Strong were thrust into the starting roles and did not disappoint.

Strong had five rushing attempts for 70 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown in the third quarter on a 3-yard run. The Patriots drafted Strong in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Harris had eight rushing attempts for 26 yards. He scored his first NFL touchdown on a 14-yard run. New England drafted Harris in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft.

With Damien Harris out and Rhamondre Stevenson questionable, the Patriots could be limited in their running back depth against the Raiders. With Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong Jr. set to play, the Patriots could use the injuries to bring up J.J Taylor from the practice squad.

Taylor has played one game in 2022, in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts. Taylor had ten rushing attempts for 9 yards and one reception for 8 yards.

Harris, Strong, and Taylor could be seen as a downgrade; however, we have seen that they can step up when needed to.

An opportunity for the passing offense

While the potential lack of depth and experience at running back is a concern for Week 15, this game could be an opportunity for the Patriots to improve their passing offense.

While the Patriots’ rushing offense is a bottom-ten offense in the league, their passing offense needs more improvement.

The Patriots’ offense, specifically their passing offense, has struggled this season. With a lack of creativity in the playcalling, it has been predictable and boring. New England’s offense has 2,793 passing yards and averages 214.8 passing yards per game; while this isn’t the lowest in the league, it is certainly not the highest. They also have 12 receiving touchdowns and are in the bottom three in the league for passing touchdowns.

Wide receiver DeVante Parker is out for Week 15 after suffering a concussion in the previous week against the Cardinals. Parker is second for the Patriots in receiving yards with 460 and has one receiving touchdown.

Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is also listed as questionable for Week 15. Meyers has been out since suffering a concussion against the Buffalo Bills in Week 13. Meyers leads the Patriots in receiving yards with 593 and three receiving touchdowns. Having Meyers active again would be great for the Patriots; however, if he is inactive, this is an opportunity for seemingly forgotten receivers to make an impact.

Kendrick Bourne, arguably one of the Patriots’ best receivers in 2021, has not made much of an impact this season. Bourne, who has previously called out the playcalling, has 24 receptions on 31 targets for 273 yards and zero touchdowns.

Rookie Tyquan Thornton, drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft, has recorded 145 yards and one touchdown this season. This upcoming game could be a chance for him to break out.

The Patriots could also utilize cornerback Marcus Jones who scored his first receiving touchdown on his first offensive snap in Week 13 against the Bills. He also had his first punt return touchdown in Week 11 against the New York Jets. Jones has three targets and three receptions on his offensive snaps.

The Patriots’ opponent for Week 15, the Raiders, have allowed an average of 110.54 opponent rushing yards and an average of 267.62 opponent passing yards per game this season.

With injuries on both the rushing and passing players, the Patriots will be limited, not only in their players but also with their playcalling.