Terrell Jennings Hits Season-Ending IR — What It Does to the Patriots RB Room
Jennings is done for 2026 after an Aug. 13 IR move, reopening a No. 3 running back battle behind Stevenson and Henderson.
Jennings' exit only firms up Stevenson's early-down role in New England.
- Jennings placed on IR Aug. 13, ineligible to return
- Second straight year his season ends on IR
- Was No. 3 RB behind Stevenson and Henderson
- Jennings: 73 rush yds, 1 TD over 7 games (2025)
- Move doesn't change NE's salary cap number
Terrell Jennings' 2026 is over before it started. The Patriots moved the running back to injured reserve on August 13, and because he landed there before the final roster-cut deadline, he isn't eligible for the reactivation carve-out that lets teams pull two IR players back this year. His season is done, full stop.
That's a brutal repeat for Jennings, who ranked #413 overall (#89 at RB) in our model. He posted just 15 PPR points over seven games in the 2025 season (73 rush yards and a score), and this marks the second straight campaign to end on IR — last year he hit the list in mid-December, returned to practice, but never got activated before the Super Bowl. He becomes the fifth Patriot whose year is finished before the first preseason snap.
The RB Room Reshuffle
Jennings had been the story of New England's backfield after coming off the non-football injury list, immediately locking down the No. 3 job behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson and holding it. With him gone, that third spot is wide open again. Lan Larison and Jam Miller each got a look during Jennings' first absence and couldn't seize it, so newcomers Hassan Haskins and JaMycal Hasty — both familiar with Mike Vrabel and both with special teams reps — get their shot.
That special teams piece matters more than the box score suggests. Jennings had worked into multiple starting units during camp, lining up as a kickoff return option alongside Kyle Williams, Efton Chism and Larison, plus punt-team duty. Haskins and Hasty carry their own third-phase experience, but Jennings was quietly building real value there.
One thing that doesn't move: the cap. The IR designation removes his $1.075 million base salary from the active roster count, but he still gets paid, and his replacement on the Top 51 carries the same figure. The Patriots could trim his hit slightly via a split-salary provision down the line. For now, they roll into Thursday's game against the Colts with 91 players, one over the usual limit thanks to international tackle Lorenz Meth's roster exemption.
Fantasy-wise, Jennings was never a draftable asset — he sits at #89 among RBs in our rankings — so there's nothing to cut. The read-through is simpler: this cements Stevenson (#25 RB, 175 PPR points in 2025 and trending up at +7.5 fantasy points over his last five games) and Henderson as the clear one-two. Hold Stevenson with confidence, and file Haskins or Hasty under deep-league watch only if the No. 3 job crystallizes into meaningful touches.
