Patriots place running back Terrell Jennings on injured reserve, sign JaMycal Hasty – The Boston Globe
After one workout earlier this summer, the 25-year-old expressed a sense of optimism that he’d be able to contribute after spending part of last year on injured reserve.
“I feel really good,” said Jennings, who sustained a concussion last December and was lost for the duration of the season. “Knowing the playbook is a plus for me. And just knowing the same guys I’ve been in the building with for a year now.”
Now, Jennings steps aside, opening the field to the likes of Hasty, who was in the lineup for Thursday’s preseason opener against the Colts. The 29-year-old spent time in New England in 2023 and ’24 and also was in training camp last year. In 2024, the 5-8, 205-pounder played in 15 games and finished with 20 rushing attempts for 69 yards and caught 10 passes for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Lan Larison, Jam Miller, and Hassan Haskins are all part of the third back picture.
The 24-year-old Larison signed as a rookie free agent in the spring of 2025 but suffered a season-ending foot injury last summer. He compiled monster numbers at UC Davis, playing in 50 games, and finishing with 641 carries for 3,634 yards and 41 touchdowns.
Miller, a seventh-round pick out of Alabama, has worked mostly with the third-team offense in camp, which would likely mean he’s ticketed for the practice squad. In four years with the Crimson Tide, the 5-10, 209-pounder rushed for 1,596 yards on 349 carries and 13 touchdowns.
Haskins is a 6-2, 228-pounder who has spent three seasons in the NFL, including a year with coach Mike Vrabel in Tennessee. The 26-year-old has 79 carries for 229 yards and two touchdowns in 44 regular-season games.
Miller got the start Thursday night against the Colts, and had four carries for 15 yards on the opening drive, a sequence that ended with Andy Borregales’s 40-yard field goal. He led the Patriots with 12 carries for 47 yards in the first half, while Larison had four catches for 31 yards in the first two quarters.
The loss of Jennings impacts special teams. The Patriots have spent this spring and summer looking for a dependable kick returner, and Jennings was one of a handful of candidates with experience at the position, a group that includes wide receivers Efton Chism III and Kyle Williams. Larison and Channing Canada were the duo who were back to receive the opening kickoff Thursday.
Among the new faces, Haskins does have limited experience as a returner, with 28 career attempts and a 21.8 yards per return average.
The following Patriots were not spotted on the field in uniform prior to playing the Colts: cornerback Christian Gonzalez, edge Harold Landry, cornerback Charles Woods, special teamer/safety Brenden Schooler, long snapper Julian Ashby, linebacker Christian Elliss, wide receiver Kyle Dixon, and defensive tackle Christian Barmore.
As expected, the Patriots went with mostly backups to open the game on both sides of the ball.
Tommy DeVito was under center with a group that included Miller at running back, and Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins at wide receiver. In addition, rookie tight ends Tanner Arkin and Eli Raridon started, while the offensive line went (from left to right) Marcus Bryant, Andrew Rupcich, Ben Brown, James Hudson III, and first-round pick Caleb Lomu.
On defense, second-round pick Gabe Jacas and Quintayvious Hutchins were on the edges, with Joshua Farmer and Eric Gregory at defensive tackle. Chad Muma and K.J. Britt were at inside linebacker, with Kindle Vildor (first-quarter interception) and Karon Prunty at cornerback and Dell Pettus, Mike Brown, and John Saunders Jr. in a three-safety set.
Stevenson, Bryce Baringer, Williams, Jeremiah Pharms, Brown, DeVito, and Pettus represented the Patriots for the opening coin toss … The Patriots will return to the practice field Saturday to kick off a stretch of four practices that will be closed to the public. The next practice that will be open to the public is Wednesday, when they host the first of two joint practices with the Eagles.
Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social.