USA TODAY

The New England Patriots’ backfield has suffered a significant blow with the news that running back Antonio Gibson will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn ACL. The injury occurred during the team’s victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, with an MRI on Monday confirming the diagnosis.

Gibson, who had been a vital, multi-faceted contributor for the Patriots, sustained the season-ending knee injury while returning a kickoff in the second quarter. He was quickly ruled out of the game and was visibly emotional as he was taken off the field.

The loss of the 27-year-old running back is a major setback for New England on multiple fronts. In the rushing attack, where Gibson had been playing a rotational role alongside Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie TreVeyon Henderson, he was proving to be one of the more consistent performers. Through five games, he had accumulated 106 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

Beyond his role on offense, Gibson’s absence will also be keenly felt on special teams. He had been the team’s primary kick returner and a productive one at that, averaging 28.5 yards per return, which ranked him in the top ten league-wide. His season was highlighted by a 90-yard kick return touchdown in Week 2, an effort that earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

With Gibson out for the year, the Patriots will now have to rely heavily on the remaining backfield duo of Stevenson and Henderson. The rookie Henderson is expected to see a significant uptick in usage both on offense and as a returner, a role he shared with Gibson earlier in the season. The team will likely look to add another back to their roster to provide necessary depth as they navigate the rest of the campaign without their versatile contributor. For Gibson, the focus now shifts to a long and arduous rehabilitation process as he prepares for a potential return in a future season.