New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson participated in a walkthrough session in Germany on Thursday.
The workout, conducted off to the side of the main team activities, suggests a recovery timeline that “offers real optimism” for his status, according to Pats Pulpit.
Stevenson initially suffered a knee tendon injury during the third quarter of a 45-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
While the injury did not require surgery, initial reports suggested he would miss multiple weeks, a timeline that quarterback Drake Maye recently disputed.
Maye addressed the conflicting reports by stating, “I think that just speaks to, first off, the media not really knowing 100% what they’re talking about a lot of the time.”
Teammates have praised Stevenson for his dedication to returning to the field ahead of the team’s upcoming bye week.
Wide receiver DeMario Douglas highlighted his teammate’s work ethic, noting that Stevenson is “a dawg who refuses to quit” while dealing with the injury.
Despite the positive signs at practice, the medical reality remains uncertain for the upcoming game against the Detroit Lions.
Analysts at RotoBaller indicated that it would be considered “quite shocking” if the running back is active for the Week 10 contest.
Fantasy managers and fans should anticipate that Stevenson will remain sidelined for the matchup scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 15, in Munich.
If Stevenson is not cleared to play, the Patriots are expected to utilize Corey Kiner as the primary running back against Detroit.
The team is looking to secure a victory before entering their scheduled bye week.
Maye emphasized the importance of having key contributors back in the lineup, describing Stevenson as a player who “can help the squad right now.”
The game is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET.