When Patriots running back Antonio Gibson (4) departed the game in Buffalo with a season-ending torn ACL knee injury, Terrell Jennings vowed to "uphold his standard" after being promoted from the practice squad.
When Patriots running back Antonio Gibson (4) departed the game in Buffalo with a season-ending torn ACL knee injury, Terrell Jennings vowed to "uphold his standard" after being promoted from the practice squad.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
FOXBOROUGH — In the wake of Antonio Gibson’s season-ending knee injury last Sunday against the Bills, practice squad running back Terrell Jennings could be in line for a promotion.
The 6-foot-2-inch, 217-pounder, who rushed for 33 yards in three regular-season games last year with the Patriots, figures to be the next man up for a rushing attack that could use another layer of depth after Gibson was lost for the season.
Gibson and Jennings, who have adjoining lockers, have connected over the last year-plus, according to Jennings.
“Me and Antonio are actually really close. That’s my locker buddy, as well. I took that hard,” Jennings said of Gibson. “That’s my brother, I’m with him everyday. To see him go down like that, it hurt me to the core. So I would be wrong if I don’t go down there and do my job to uphold his standard.”
While the Patriots did add running back Jashaun Corbin to the practice squad earlier this week, head coach Mike Vrabel praised Jennings on Wednesday, hailing his toughness and approach.
“I think he’s a great teammate,” Vrabel said. ”I think he cares about the team. He’s able to play special teams. He’s able to play on fourth down. He’s got a toughness to him. I think he’s improved.”
Chemistry still brewing
While there was a lot of good between quarterback Drake Maye and wide receiver Stefon Diggs, both said their chemistry remains a work in progress. By way of example, Diggs was asked about an apparent misfire on a slant pass Sunday that resulted in a rare incompletion between the two.
“That was my fault,” said Diggs, who finished with 10 catches for 146 receiving yards. “I ran the right route the wrong way. It wasn’t on Drake. It was on me.
“I think there’s a lot of room for growth,” said Diggs. “Being on the same page isn’t just a one-game thing. Back in practice this week. We’ve got a long way to go. I look forward to it.”
Practice update
Defensive end Keion White and safety Jaylinn Hawkins were the only nonparticipants for the Patriots in Wednesday’s practice. New England listed five players as limited: defensive tackle Christian Barmore (not injury related/other), linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson (knee), defensive tackle Joshua Farmer (ankle), linebacker Anfernee Jennings (ankle), defensive tackle Milton Williams (ankle). . . . As for the Saints, cornerback and former Boston College standout Isaac Yiadom (hamstring) didn’t practice, while six players were limited, including running back Alvin Kamara (ankle) . . . Right guard Mike Onwenu and center Garrett Bradbury are the only players on the Patriots’ roster who have played 100 percent of possible snaps five weeks into the regular season. The duo has played every snap on offense (314 of 314). . . . Adrian Hill is set to work as the referee of Sunday’s Patriots-Saints game. It will mark Hill’s first time calling a Patriots game this season, and first since Dec. 1, 2024, a 25-24 win for the Colts.. According to NFLPenalties, Hill’s crew is in the top 5 among flags thrown this year.
Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social.