Will Stevan Ridley get carries next week?

Just when running back Stevan Ridley seemed to be finally getting over his fumbling issue (at least mentally), the worst possible thing could have happened... he fumbled. That early drive against the Denver Broncos two weeks ago was the last time the former feature running back has seen the field. As he came off the field he slammed his helmet; Ridley knew that his day was done. He was benched for the remainder of the game and was a healthy scratch yesterday against the Houston Texans. Ridley in each of the last three games.

ELISE AMENDOLA/ASSOCIATED PRESS

So what now? Ridley was seen holding a football at various points throughout the game against the Texans yesterday. The question is whether or not this punishment will continue into next week. In my opinion, Ridley will be active and get a few carries, but Shane Vereen and LeGarrette Blount will carry the load as they have had success the past few games. Ridley will likely be eased back into the swing of things as the team tries to help build his confidence. At this point though, it seems unlikely that he will be the feature running back again any time soon.

Before we jump to conclusions, I want to quickly point out that many other running backs have had fumbling issues. What makes Ridley's situation magnified is that he plays for Bill Belichick who values each possession greatly. Even running backs like Kevin Faulk and Adrian Peterson were criticized early in their careers for fumbling a lot. I am not saying that Ridley is going to turn out like Peterson, but this issue can still be overcome. At this point, the issue is a mental problem. Regaining confidence is key for the young RB.

Anthony Aidonidis
@aidonidis18