FOXBOROUGH — Mike Vrabel says the Patriots need Rhamondre Stevenson. The running back wasn’t so sure.

The fumble problems that derailed Stevenson’s 2024 season resurfaced on Sunday. He lost the ball twice in the Patriots’ 21-14 loss to the Steelers at Foxborough. Both were damaging in the close game and created uncertainty about his future.

Stevenson fumbled on the first drive of the game and Vrabel chose to stick with him. Stevenson rewarded him with several key plays in the second quarter that brought the Patriots to the doorstep of a game-tying touchdown before Drake Maye threw a drive-killing interception just before halftime.

But Stevenson’s second fumble was a backbreaker. After the Patriots got a takeaway on a Robert Spillane interception, they drove all the way to the 2. B

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