Patriots Sign Second-Year RB To Active Roster
After a trio of practice squad elevations to the active game day roster, the New England Patriots are adding a second-year running back to their active roster.
The Patriots are signing RB Terrell Jennings to the 53-man roster, a source told Patriots on SI. This move was on the cusp of happening all week after head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters that the team all liked Jennings. The terms of the contract, including money and the length of the deal haven't been determined yet, according to a source.
"We all want Terrell here," Vrabel said. "So, however we have to handle that … the only other option is to bring him up. He's been a good addition. He's been prepared for his opportunity. Helped on special teams, had a tackle yesterday on kickoff. So those things are all really good things. I think he's a good teammate, and so, yeah, I think that's only probably procedural at the end of the week."
Through his three weeks of game action, Jennings has rushed the ball seven times for just 33 yards and two first downs. He's seen the most time during mop-up duty during the team's winning stretch against the New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, and was caught on video getting greeted by Vrabel outside the locker room being called New England's "five-minute back."
Jennings was signed by the Patriots prior to the 2024 season after a successful rookie minicamp tryout, but failed to make the initial, 53-man roster both years in the NFL. He's been one of the first ones to sign to the practice squad, and has gotten brief chances during his first two seasons to show what he can do.
"We All Want Terrell Here"
After backup Antonio Gibson went down in Week 5 with what soon determined to be a torn ACL, Jennings got the opportunity to be the third player on the depth chart behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie TreVeyon Henderson.
"I try to protect my teammates, protect the quarterback, and protect the ball as well," Jennings said in the locker room earlier this year. "So, getting downhill, running through, breaking tackles. That's what I bring to the table."
After Jennings got promoted, the team still has a long line of depth at the running back position. The practice squad pipeline also includes Jonathan Ward and Rushawn Baker, as well Jashaun Corbin on practice squad injured reserve.
Pryor: Darius Slay ‘Significant Part’ Of Defensive Issues, Could Be On The Move At Trade Deadline
The Pittsburgh Steelers have already added to their secondary ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline with the reported Tuesday night trade for S Kyle Dugger. But could they jettison someone from their secondary in an effort to improve things?
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor believes that could be the case, citing veteran cornerback Darius Slay as a player who “could be on the move.”
In a piece for ESPN.com focusing on the upcoming trade deadline, Pryor chose Slay as her Steelers player who could be out the door after signing a one-year, $10 million in free agency to try and help shore up the secondary.
“He was part of the Steelers’ secondary overhaul in the offseason, but he hasn’t panned out,” Pryor writes. “Slay, who won a Super Bowl with the Eagles a year ago, has been a significant part of recurring issues like missed tackles, miscommunication and being out of position.
“Against the Packers this past Sunday, Slay was replaced by Brandin Echols at times in the second half.”
Slay has been nothing short of a disappointment this season. There were questions about his ability to still play at a serviceable level after he signed with the Steelers at 34 years old, but the Steelers expressed a ton of confidence in him, handing him $10 million.
Though he was good in the playoffs last year for the Eagles on their way to a Super Bowl title, since joining the Steelers he’s been a mess. He’s dealt with injuries throughout games, which has limited him some. But his play on the field has been well below expectations.
On the season, Slay holds a grade of just 56.1 overall from Pro Football Focus, including a coverage grade of 57.6. He’s allowed 23 receptions on 32 targets for 322 yards and three touchdowns with just three pass breakups.
In the tackling department, Slay has been dreadful. Based on charting here at Steelers Depot, Slay has missed the second-most tackles on the team with eight, recording a 22.9% missed tackles rate on the season. That’s the highest rate on the team.
Slay’s play was so bad on Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers that the veteran cornerback lost snaps to Brandin Echols. It seemingly wasn’t due to injury, and after some questionable effort on a touchdown early in the second half, it made sense that Slay started to lose some playing time.
We’ll see if it continues, especially with the Steelers banged up in the secondary. But one thing is clear: Slay has been a major disappointment. It’s hard to fathom he’d be coveted by other teams ahead of the trade deadline considering his age and the poor play. But if the Steelers want to shake things up, he’d be a good place to start.
