Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Could cede start to Gibson

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Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo suggested Monday that Stevenson could give way to Antonio Gibson as the team's starting running back in Week 17 against the Chargers, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.

In his first 13 appearances of the season, Stevenson had received more snaps than Gibson in all but two of those contests, but the playing time tilted in Gibson's favor during Sunday's 24-21 loss to the Bills. Stevenson took the field for 32 of New England's 73 plays on offense, finishing with 60 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries to go with a 13-yard reception. However, he lost his third fumble of the season, and he also dropped a backward pass from Drake Maye that was recovered in the end zone by the Bills, although that fumble was charged to the QB. Gibson, meanwhile, paced Patriots running backs with a 59 percent snap share, but he was less effective as a rusher (10 carries for 28 yards) and also fumbled, though he at least recovered it. Even if Mayo follows through and appoints Gibson as the team's starter, Stevenson could still end up being heavily involved in the game plan and seeing the more valuable touches if he keeps his goal-line role. Ball security issues earlier in the season prompted Mayo to hand Gibson a Week 5 start against Miami, but Stevenson still finished with 12 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown to go with four catches in that contest.