I need help with the 787

That’s exactly what happens if you start your descent before the TOD.
The 787 descends at 1000fpm with the autothrottle in ‘hold’ until it intercepts the VNAV profile. Then the autothrottle switches to ‘idle’ and the ROD increases.

@mdapol If there’s an autothrottle mode indicated on the PFD it’s apparently on.