Tag: antonio gibson

WATCH: Patriots RB Antonio Gibson bulldozes for touchdown on Colts

Antonio Gibson averaged 8.9 yards per carry against the Colts. Should he be utilized more?

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson had a stellar day running all over the Indianapolis Colts’ defense on Sunday. He scored his first touchdown of the season in the third quarter of the game and gave the Patriots a brief lead in the process.

The veteran running back scampered his way into the end zone on an 11-yard run. The touchdown concluded a nine-play, 54-yard drive that took 3:17 off the clock.

Gibson finished the game with seven carries for 62 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 8.9 yards on the ground per carry against the Colts.

One has to wonder if the Patriots will give Gibson more carries considering how efficient he was with the ball in his hands on Sunday.

Rhamondre Stevenson had a strong outing as well, but Gibson has proven himself as a strong complementary option out of the offensive backfield for New England.

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Commanders’ Brian Robinson reaches a franchise milestone

Some history for Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr.

For the first time this season, the Commanders have lost consecutive games, but one of their starters has reached a personal milestone.

With his 63 rushing yards against the Eagles in Thursday night’s 26-18 loss, Brian Robinson surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards. No, he is not among the top leading rushers in the NFL. However, Robinson is revealing that he is a productive dual threat.

Robinson not only reached 2,000 rushing yards in his third season (with six remaining games), but he also became the fourth running back in Washington Redskins/Commanders franchise history to hit 2,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in his first three seasons in the NFL.


Which other Washington running backs accomplished this within their first three seasons? Larry Brown (1969-71), Mike Thomas (1975-77), and Antonio Gibson (2021-23) are the only three.

One nuance of the statistic is that the four players all started their careers in Washington.

However, one very prominent Washington running back accomplished this feat in his first three seasons. Yet, the nuance in this case is that the running back spent his first two seasons in the NFL elsewhere, came to Washington, and enjoyed several high-caliber seasons.

Clinton Portis, in his first three seasons in the NFL (two with Denver, one with Washington), had rushing totals of 1,508, 1,591, and 1,315 (4,414 rushing yards) and receiving totals of 364, 314, and 235 (913 receiving yards).

Many fans have easily framed their narrative that the 2012 10-6 Washington season was all about Robert Griffin III. Yes, Griffin was a spectacular running quarterback, rushing for 815 yards. He also led the NFL in passing yards per attempt that season at 8.1.

However, you must remember that Alfred Morris rushed for 1,613 yards in the 2012 season. What is significant about that rushing total by Morris? It was and remains, 12 seasons later, the franchise record for most rushing yards in a regular season.

However, Morris did not accumulate 500 receiving yards in his first three NFL seasons and thus did not make the list of four the Commanders have provided.

Congratulations to Brian Robinson. May you have many more successful rushing and receiving seasons for the Burgundy and Gold.

 

 

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo shares injury update on RB Antonio Gibson

Jerod Mayo commented on RB Antonio Gibson’s injury status

New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo had an injury update for running back Antonio Gibson as the team gets set to take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

“It’s always a concern when we put people on the injury report. We’ll see how it goes today,” Mayo told media members.

Gibson was a newer addition to the injury report on Thursday with a hip injury. He was once again on the report on Friday and listed as questionable to play in Week 1.

Mayo was also asked about offensive guard Sidy Sow, but he had no update on his status. The starting offensive lineman was listed as out on the injury report.

These injuries could be notable for depth purposes, as the Patriots are struggling with depth at both the running back and offensive line positions. Gibson recorded three carries for 17 yards, along with hauling in a catch for 13 receiving yards, in the preseason finale against the Washington Commanders.

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Sow being out could be a major problem for the Patriots along the offensive front. The same could be said about Gibson and the running back unit.

It could put even more pressure on Rhamondre Stevenson, who has dealt with injuries in the past after an insanely high volume of carries.

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Former Commanders RB Antonio Gibson calls his former team ‘a struggling organization’

Antonio Gibson says the Commanders are “a struggling organization.”

The Washington Commanders spent a third-round pick on running back/wide receiver Antonio Gibson in the 2020 NFL draft. As a rookie, Washington immediately made Gibson a full-time running back and handed him the starting job. Gibson proceeded to rush for 795 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The future looked bright for Gibson.

In 2021, Gibson started 16 games for the Commanders, rushed for 1,037 yards and seven touchdowns, but struggled with fumbles. He fumbled six times in 2021.

The Commanders brought in Brian Robinson Jr. in 2022, who would overtake Gibson as the starter, allowing Gibson to be more of a receiving option out of the backfield.

This offseason, Gibson departed. Gibson’s fumbling issues and poor coaching derailed a once-promising career in Washington. Neither head coach Ron Rivera nor Gibson’s offensive coordinators (Scott Turner and Eric Bieniemy) knew how to use him best.

Gibson signed a two-year deal with the Patriots in March.

In his first training camp with the Patriots, Gibson had some parting words for his former team, calling them “a struggling organization.”

This should go over well with Washington’s fans. The comments were all over Gibson, asking him if he “fumbled his words.”

In all seriousness, Gibson isn’t wrong. The Commanders were a struggling organization while he was there. And maybe the Patriots do things completely differently, but so does Washington — now.

Rivera and his staff are gone. From the top on down, the Commanders are much different, and everyone is raving about the changes. So, sure, Gibson may remember things one way, but that’s not how things are these days.

Gibson was used incorrectly in Washington. If he had a clean slate and time left on his contract, perhaps new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury could help maximize his skillset. Both sides needed a change, and the Commanders signed Austin Ekeler, while Gibson gets a chance to restart his career.

 

Jerod Mayo offers encouraging update on Patriots RB Antonio Gibson

Jerod Mayo shared an update on RB Antonio Gibson

New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo indicated that Antonio Gibson will be back “relatively soon” from a non-football illness, when speaking to the media at training camp.

Gibson is expected to be a key component of the Patriots’ offensive backfield. He was signed by the team during free agency in March. He is coming off a 2023 season with Washington that saw him record 65 carries for 265 yards and a touchdown.

New England signed him to complement their No. 1 option, Rhamondre Stevenson.

Gibson returning is an important development for a couple of reasons. For one, New England does not have a ton of running back depth. If Stevenson goes down, Gibson will be heavily counted on.

Secondly, Gibson offers a guaranteed pass-catching element out of the backfield. This could be important for training camp in particular, with rookie Drake Maye trying to find his footing in the NFL.

It’s always tough to see an illness or an injury pop up this early in the training camp process. The good news is it looks like Gibson will be back sooner rather than later.

Patriots make five roster moves ahead of training camp

The Patriots made five roster moves on Tuesday

It was a busy Tuesday for the New England Patriots with media obligations and multiple roster moves a day before training camp officially opens.

Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots placed running back Antonio Gibson on the active/non-football injury list.

They also placed wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, center Jake Andrews, guard Cole Strange and linebacker Sione Takitaki on the active/physically unable to perform list.

Takitaki is recovering from a knee scope procedure, according to Reiss.

The situation with Gibson is the one to keep an eye on considering the Patriots were already coming into camp thin at the running back position.

They have Rhamondre Stevenson as their No. 1 option, but without Gibson, they are down to Kevin Harris as their top backup.

Will the Patriots keep things as is, or could they go out and sign a veteran player, like Leonard Fournette or Kareem Hunt, on the free agent market?

Given Stevenson’s injury history, it might be a move the Patriots’ front office should consider making.

Why adding another RB could prove beneficial for Patriots

Should the Patriots add another veteran running back?

It’s no secret that running back Rhamondre Stevenson is going to be the bell cow for the New England Patriots. The organization also added to the position in free agency by signing third-down back Antonio Gibson.

But even with all of that talent in the offensive backfield, an argument could be made that the Patriots still have work to do in rounding out their depth in the running backs room.

Stevenson is undoubtedly productive, but injuries caught up to him last year. His season ended in Week 13 with a high ankle sprain. He also had a concussion and knee injuries in 2021. He is not necessarily an injury-prone player, but his injuries are worth monitoring.

Stevenson played a total of 486 snaps in 2023. That number was considerably down from the 699 snaps he played the year before, when he had a career-high 1,040 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

Stevenson did admit to feeling worn down by the end of the 2022 season, and there was likely carryover into last season as well.

This is where Patriots backup running back Kevin Harris could play a large role in things. He only played 34 snaps at the running back position last season. This could be an opportunity for him to step up. Nevertheless, the uncertainty over whether he can provide consistent production is something to consider.

It’s not as if Gibson can’t take over the role as the No. 2 running back considering he played that role in Washington with the Commanders. He had 473 total snaps to Brian Robinson’s 496. His highest snap count came in Week 3 when he played in 61 percent of the team’s snaps, totaling 33 plays in all.

He had 65 carries for 260 yards and a touchdown last year.

It’s not as if Harris and Gibson aren’t capable of solidifying the running back room. The potential for Harris is certainly there, and Gibson has shown he can be a dependable contributor over multiple years. This is more about the health of Stevenson. An injury to him would be a massive blow to the room.

A back like Kareem Hunt could be a potential option, for example. He is currently a free agent and has ties with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt from their time in Cleveland together. Hunt was able to serve as a strong No. 2 option behind Nick Chubb during that time. Just last year, he recorded 411 yards and nine touchdowns on 135 carries.

It’s no secret that Van Pelt wants to run the football. It was his calling card during his run in Cleveland. Hunt is used to being a rotational piece, and he could be a viable option for a Patriots offense trying to find its footing.

Adding another veteran running back to the room would be a good move for the team. The Patriots have talent at the position, but health and experience are two of their biggest question marks in 2024.

Boosting that position with some additional help could mitigate risks if catastrophe strikes.

Breaking down the New England Patriots backfield

Does this backfield offer any value behind Rhamondre Stevenson?

Put bluntly, the New England Patriots were a disaster offensively in 2023. With arguably the worst quarterback situation in the NFL, the team struggled to sustain drives, finished 30th in total yards, and tied for last in points. The result was a complete overhaul of the coaching staff and quarterback room, with offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien replaced by Alex Van Pelt (most recently of the Cleveland Browns), and Mac Jones (Jacksonville Jaguars) swapped out for Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye.

A return to competence would go a long way in breathing life back into the rushing attack after the Pats finished 26th on the ground (95.7 yards per game). Rhamondre Stevenson is back to once again lead the backfield, but Ezekiel Elliott returned to the Dallas Cowboys after one season in Foxborough. His spot on the depth chart now belongs to RB Antonio Gibson, who was signed to a three-year contract after spending his first four seasons with the Washington Commanders.

With the Pats set to open starting Brissett, a known game manager, as QB1, and then eventually move Maye, the third overall pick, into the role, the ground game figures to be featured. So, what does that mean for fantasy owners?

RB Antonio Gibson comments on transition from Commanders to Patriots

Antonio Gibson shares his thoughts on joining the Patriots

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson feels very welcome in New England, as he gets set to begin his first season with the organization.

He was one of the few notable outside signings for a Patriots team that prioritized in-house free agents this year.

The veteran running back brings a dynamic skill set that includes both pass-catching and running out of the offensive backfield. He hopes to make a big impact alongside his new teammates, who accepted him right out of the gates.

“The locker room is very accepting. I feel like it’s more of a bond here, they do a lot of things together,” said Gibson, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Nothing against my brothers on the other side, but everybody communicates with each other — from offense to defense. That’s a good feeling coming over here and them being accepting.”

It is certainly a new era for the Patriots organization, and Gibson hopes to play a significant role in it. New England has often thrived off the production of third-down backs.

They’ll try to get back to what has worked for the offense in the past with Gibson on the field.

James White optimistic about Patriots’ offensive backfield in 2024

James White still likes what he sees in the Patriots’ running backs room

Former New England Patriots running back James White seems optimistic about the team’s offensive backfield heading into the 2024 season.

The Patriots replaced Ezekiel Elliott with veteran running back Antonio Gibson in free agency. Gibson tallied 65 carries for 265 yards and a touchdown in 2023. He also showcased his talents as a receiving threat out of the backfield with 48 catches, 389 yards and two touchdowns.

Gibson was one of the main signings for a Patriots free agency that was largely focused on re-signing in-house talent.

Now the big question is, do the Patriots have enough at the position? White appeared on the Eye on Foxborough podcast with MassLive’s Karen Guregian and Chris Mason on Thursday and shared his thoughts.

“I believe they have enough,” said White. “Rhamondre’s a guy who can play the majority of the snaps. Obviously, that may have some sort of effect on his health throughout the year like it did last season. He’s a guy who can play first, second, third down, wherever you need him to be.

“You bring a guy like Antonio Gibson with that versatile change-of-pace guy, kind of like myself, who can run the football as well, but he can run routes out of the backfield, and create the mismatches, just like Rhamondre.”

The duo of Stevenson and Gibson in the backfield will be important for an offense that is going to have to run the football. It will be interesting to see how the Patriots do with this new-look running back tandem.