Antonio Gibson’s Season-Ending ACL Injury Leaves New England Patriots Scrambling At Running Back

The football gods have a cruel sense of timing. Just when Antonio Gibson was positioned to potentially take on a bigger role in New England’s backfield, his season came to a brutal halt on a kickoff return that nobody will forget anytime soon.

Gibson Suffers Devastating Knee Injury Against Bills

Tests today revealed that Patriots RB Antonio Gibson suffered a season-ending torn ACL, per sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 6, 2025

The Patriots’ veteran running back went down hard during Sunday night’s thrilling 23-20 upset victory over Buffalo, and the news that followed Monday was exactly what everyone feared most. An MRI confirmed Gibson tore his ACL, effectively ending what had been a promising 2025 campaign before it could truly get started.

You could see it immediately when it happened. Gibson fielded the kickoff after the Bills had tied the game, took a crushing hit that sent him airborne, and the way he grabbed that right knee while writhing on the turf told the whole story. Sometimes injuries look worse than they are. This wasn’t one of those times.

The emotional toll was evident as Gibson limped off the field with tears streaming down his face, and it got even more heartbreaking in the locker room afterward. Despite dealing with what he surely suspected was a serious injury, Gibson positioned himself at the entrance to greet every single teammate coming off their biggest win of the season. That’s the kind of character move that explains why this loss stings so much for New England.

What Gibson’s Absence Means For the Patriots

Here is where things get interesting from a football perspective. Gibson wasn’t just some depth piece riding the bench – he was the Patriots’ primary kick returner and had already shown flashes of being a legitimate offensive weapon. Remember that electrifying 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Miami in Week 2? That’s the kind of game-breaking ability you can’t just replace with a waiver wire pickup.

But the timing of this injury creates an even bigger headache for Head Coach Mike Vrabel. Rhamondre Stevenson has been doing his best impression of a fumble machine this season, coughing up the ball three times already – more than any non-quarterback in the league. Gibson was perfectly positioned to capitalize on those struggles and potentially steal some carries away from the starter.

Henderson Steps Into Spotlight

The silver lining, if you can call it that, is rookie TreVeyon Henderson getting thrust into a more prominent role. The second-round pick out of Ohio State was already the clear RB2, but now he’s looking at significantly more touches moving forward.

Henderson comes with a legitimate pedigree – he finished his college career fifth on Ohio State’s all-time rushing list with 3,761 yards and was team captain for the 2024 National Championship Buckeyes. Not exactly scrub credentials. The question is whether he’s ready for the increased workload that’s about to get dumped on his plate.

Looking Ahead: Patriots’ Backfield Puzzle

The Patriots will need to make roster moves quickly. Practice squad Running Back Terrell Jennings from Florida A&M figures to be in the mix, but expecting a practice squad player to seamlessly fill Gibson’s versatile role is asking a lot.

Gibson’s injury is particularly brutal because ACL recovery typically takes six to nine months, meaning he’s not just done for 2025 – he’s facing a long rehabilitation process that will carry well into the offseason. At 27 years old, this represents a significant setback for a player who was just hitting his stride in New England’s system.

The Patriots pulled off a stunning upset victory over Buffalo that nobody saw coming, but losing Gibson takes some of the shine off what should have been a celebration. Sometimes football gives you everything you want and then immediately reminds you why you can’t have nice things.