The New England Patriots picked up their first playoff victory of the Drake Maye era on Sunday night, as they handed the Los Angeles Chargers a 16-3 defeat. It wasn’t the Patriots’ best game, but they did well to take down a feisty team, proving they can win against top competition in the process.
Now, the Pats will prepare for a daunting matchup against the Houston Texans in the divisional round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs. Houston is playing great football, which means New England is going to have to be on its A-game if it wants to come out on top. As the team begins making preparations for this game, it made a surprising roster move involving veteran running back D’Ernest Johnson.
Patriots Release D’Ernest Johnson Ahead of Texans Clash
Entering the 2025 campaign, the Patriots had a three-headed monster at running back, with Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, and Antonio Gibson all having roles on offense. After Gibson tore his ACL back in Week 5, though, the Pats have been struggling to find a proper replacement for him on the depth chart.
Initially, Terrell Jennings was given the nod, but he suffered a concussion late in the regular season that landed him on injured reserve. With Jennings out, that led to Johnson getting called up from the practice squad to fill in the gaps behind Stevenson and Henderson. With both guys starring on offense, though, Johnson hasn’t been needed all that much as of late.
With Jennings closing in on a return from injured reserve, the team had a decision to make on Johnson’s future with the team. Shortly after taking down the Chargers, the team officially released Johnson, paving the way for Jennings to make his return to the field when New England squares off against Houston.
“The New England Patriots announced that they have released RB D’Ernest Johnson from the 53-man roster and T Sebastian Gutierrez from the practice squad,” the team revealed on its official website.
Patriots Looking to Punch Ticket to AFC Championship Game
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 02: Head coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots leaves the field after a win against the Atlanta Falcons at Gillette Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
Johnson’s release did catch a bit of attention, but he didn’t spend too much time away from the team, as he quickly re-signed to New England’s practice squad on Tuesday. If the team needs more help at the running back spot, Johnson has gotten enough run with the Patriots for the time being that he should be able to fill in, but it looks like the team is going to roll with Stevenson, Henderson, and Jennings for the time being.
The Pats are going to need all the help they can get on offense against the Texans, as they feature arguably the most dangerous defense in the league. With Maye under center, though, New England should have a good shot at coming out on top in this contest. Kickoff for the Patriots’ upcoming divisional round matchup vs. the Texans is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon.
Patriots Release Veteran Running Back Ahead of Texans Divisional Game