Cordarrelle Patterson makes surprise start at running back

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – There was a notion that the Patriots needed to add another running back to the roster this week. With Sony Michel out with a knee injury, the team was left with two – James White and Kenjon Barner.

When the Patriots didn’t sign anyone or promote Kenneth Farrow from the practice squad, it was a minor surprise. It didn’t take us long, however, to realize why the Patriots didn’t need to add another player to the running back position [...]

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – There was a notion that the Patriots needed to add another running back to the roster this week. With Sony Michel out with a knee injury, the team was left with two – James White and Kenjon Barner.

When the Patriots didn’t sign anyone or promote Kenneth Farrow from the practice squad, it was a minor surprise. It didn’t take us long, however, to realize why the Patriots didn’t need to add another player to the running back position – they had Cordarrelle Patterson.

The Patriots receiver and kickoff returner made a surprise start at running back on Monday night. Patterson even took a handoff, after lining up behind fullback James Develin, for six yards on the first play of the game.  Patterson finished with a career-high 10 carries on Monday night. He led the Patriots and the game with 38 rushing yards.

“Josh did a hell of a job, putting me back there, trusting me,” Patterson said. “Ten carries tonight. I was just thankful for that. Next week I hope I get, like, 25 carries.”

Patterson had 51-career carries coming into this game. The most he received this season was three in Week 1. Patterson had some up and down moments. After the opening 6-yard rush, his next carry went for a loss of four yards, but his teammates were proud of his efforts.

 “He’s good at it,” Tom Brady said. “He broke off a long run and had some other opportunities. I’m sure if he had been playing there longer he’d have seen some of the other ones. He’s just doing a great job for us. In any role that he’s in to help us win, he’s fulfilled them.”

“He’s a big, fast strong guy. You give him a lane and he can go,” James White added. “That guy can do a lot of things on the football field. He’s a special football player. He can help us out for sure.”

Patterson's shining moment as a ball carrier came in the fourth quarter. With 11:30 left, he took a handoff on first down and ran for 22 yards. Three plays later, the Patriots scored their only offensive touchdown of the game.

“CP’s a great athlete,” Bill Belichick said. “Does a great job with the ball in his hands. We were able to hand it to him a few times. He’s done a good job in the return game and on some other plays that he’s had a chance to run with. Looked like he had a couple solid runs out there. We’re a little light at the running back position. We needed him to step up and he did.”