Pats’ Patterson has become revelation out of backfield

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — To be a productive member of the New England Patriots, it’s usually best to approach the game plan each week with adaptive eyes.

No one has learned that lesson more this season than receiver Cordarrelle Patterson.

When he was traded by Oakland to the Patriots in March, Patterson arrived in New England hoping to land a place on Tom Brady’s receiving corps following an offseason shake-up that included the departures of Brandin Cooks and Danny Amendola.

But after a Week 3 neck injury sent veteran running back Rex Burkhead to injured reserve and rookie Sony Michel’s knee injury in Week 7 stunted his strong start, it created a void at another position that itself was recovering from the free agency loss of Dion Lewis.

The natural solution seemed to be an increased role for veteran James White. Instead the coaching staff chose creativity over predictability.

Two productive games at running back later, Patterson has become the latest Patriots player to excel in an unconventional role in New England.

Patterson led the Patriots with 61 rushing yards, including a 5-yard touchdown in their 31-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers Sunday night. It was the second straight week he led the team in rushing and came two weeks after he had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Bears.

That’s just about right for a player called “Flash” early in his career.

“I said I wanted 25 carries this week,” Patterson said. “Whenever my number’s called, I’m being ready for whatever I need to do on the football field.”

Using the former Tennessee Vols player out of the backfield isn’t as much of a stretch as it might seem.

Coach Bill Belichick said he noted the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder’s ability to make plays from there when studying his 2017 tape with the Raiders. He rushed 13 times for 121 yards and two scores with Oakland last season, an average of 9.3 yards per carry.