With a glass half full perspective, one thing can certainly be gleaned from the current circumstances: Kenjon Barner is better than advertised, and he has an opportunity to carve out a small role for himself beyond Michel’s return with a solid performance during this stretch.
Barner — a Chip Kelly product from the University of Oregon — possesses an athleticism not often seen from the Patriots’ depth-option running backs of the past. In the draft process he had better three-cone and vertical jump numbers than James White, and he ran a faster 40-yard dash than White and Sony Michel.