The news
By the Wire Report team. Per @MikeReiss, the New England Patriots list Rhamondre Stevenson as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions in Munich. The running back is dealing with a knee issue, leaving his game status unresolved despite signs that he is on track to play.
Stevenson was present at Friday’s practice but did not participate in uniform. The Patriots’ questionable designation keeps the decision open, and the team’s official active and inactive report will confirm whether he can play. That report is due 90 minutes before kickoff.
Saturday brought another change to the backfield: the Patriots placed a running back on injured reserve as he recovers from an illness. New England also chose not to elevate a running back from its practice squad. That roster decision has been reported as a sign of confidence in Stevenson’s availability, though it does not change his official designation.
Prior context
Stevenson has carried 102 times for 399 rushing yards and two touchdowns through nine games in 2026. He led New England’s backfield workload in an October contest, making his status a significant question for the offense. The injured reserve move adds to the importance of the team’s decision about his knee.
The Patriots enter the matchup at 5-4 after a 45-27 loss and hold the No. 7 seed in the AFC. The Lions are 6-2, have won four straight games and hold the fifth seed in the NFC. Those records frame Sunday’s game, but they cannot answer how much work Stevenson will be able to handle if he is active.
What it means
The Patriots have two related decisions ahead of kickoff: whether Stevenson can play and, if he can, how much of the backfield workload he can take. His season totals show the production at issue. They do not establish that he will be available for his usual role while managing the knee issue.
The choice not to elevate a practice squad running back points toward Stevenson playing. It is still a roster signal rather than a final medical or game-day determination. New England must account for the injured reserve move either way; that player will be sidelined for at least four games.
If Stevenson is inactive or has a restricted workload, the Patriots will need carries from their available backfield depth. If he plays without a restriction, they retain the runner who has recorded 399 yards across nine games. The official report will resolve the first question, while his usage during the game will answer the second.
What reporters are saying
Per @MikeReiss, New England’s decision not to elevate a running back from the practice squad suggests Stevenson is tracking toward playing. Per @AdamSchefter and @Yahoo NFL, Stevenson is listed as questionable for the Munich matchup. Those reports point in the same direction on his possible availability while leaving the formal game-day decision pending.
The reporting also describes a cautious practice assessment. The Patriots’ coach said Stevenson had responded well so far but that the team needed to evaluate how he held up after Friday’s session before making a final lineup determination. That assessment helps explain why an encouraging roster signal can coexist with a questionable listing.
What to watch next
The decisive update is the active and inactive list, due 90 minutes before Sunday’s kickoff in Munich. Until then, the questionable designation remains the clearest official statement of Stevenson’s status. Pregame evaluation will determine whether New England can use him against Detroit.
If Stevenson is active, his share of the carries will show how the Patriots manage the knee issue alongside their reduced backfield depth. If he is inactive, the offense will have to distribute that work elsewhere. Either outcome makes the game-day report more consequential than the indications from Saturday’s roster decision alone.
Companion to our earlier report: Patriots list Rhamondre Stevenson as questionable for Munich matchup with Lions.