New England Patriots
“When we hand him the ball, he lowers his pads. He will lay the boom on somebody.”
Jam Miller gained 55 yards on the ground Thursday. (AP Photo/CJ Gunther)
August 14, 2026 | 7:09 AM
3 minutes to read
FOXBOROUGH — The circumstances surrounding the Patriots’ running-back depth chart have changed in recent days.
But Patriots 2026 seventh-round pick Jam Miller doesn’t believe his mindset has changed amid the ups and downs that present themselves during training camp and the preseason.
According the former University of Alabama running back, every player on an NFL roster is looking over his shoulder during the summer — not just individuals on the roster bubble.
“I feel like every team’s got to battle,” Miller said Thursday. “Everybody is battling from starting quarterback to the starting running back. Just everybody just competing. … Everybody is cool, everybody is friends.
“But at the end of the day, pretty sure everybody knows that this is a business thing. And for me, you know, I’m just trying to earn a spot on this team.”
That potential spot on New England’s 53-man roster became far more tangible for Miller on Thursday — especially after Terrell Jennings was placed on season-ending injured reserve ahead of the team’s preseason debut against the Colts.
The loss of Jennings, the presumed clubhouse leader for the RB3 spot behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, creates a vacancy that Miller and several other backs are trying to fill with just a few more weeks to go until the roster cutdown.
And on Thursday, Miller took an encouraging step forward as far as separating himself from the rest of the pack.
The physical back was a bright spot in Thursday’s 13-13 tie against the Colts — gaining 55 total yards off of 14 total carries.
“It was good to see Jam come out and have some nice runs,” Mike Vrabel said after the draw. “I felt like he ran with his pads down and had a couple physical runs, and was happy for him. This is a great evaluation. We can start to figure out guys that can and start to figure out guys that can’t too.”
Miller is seemingly cut from a similar cloth as Stevenson as a physical, downhill running back who could spell Stevenson if called upon as part of a bruising ground game in Foxborough.
“Aggressive — with a little bit of speed to it,” Miller said when asked to describe his running style, adding: “I feel like I always had that. Just get downhill. If it’s a 4th-and-1 play, just get that first down — just being strong and just running through somebody else.”
Miller will still face plenty of competition for that one roster spot — especially with the Patriots signing veterans Hasaan Haskins and JaMycal Hasty this week to go along with second-year pro Lan Larison.
Larison only gained one yard across seven carries on Thursday, although he was involved in the passing game with six catches for 38 yards. If New England is searching for a different look with a third-down, receiving back like Larison, Miller could be back on the outside looking at the roster as a redundant foil to Stevenson’s strengths.
But based on what Miller showcased on Thursday, his skill set is one that could come in handy over the course of a grueling football season.
“Jam was great,” Patriots QB Tommy DeVito said postgame. “Again, another rookie that is stepping up to the plate, whether it is in pass protection or to run the ball. He is confident in the huddle. You do not see him looking around and acting like he does not know what is going on.
“So, his confidence, that helps myself and everybody in the huddle believe in him and feel confident— so when we hand him the ball, he lowers his pads. He will lay the boom on somebody. He also has a little shiftiness that I am ready to see some more and more.”
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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