The New England Patriots are bringing back running back LaGarrette Blount.
According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, Blount re-signed with the Patriots on Tuesday morning.
LeGarrette Blount re-signed with the Patriots this morning. He’s back.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 12, 2016
Blount, 29, rushed for 703 yards and six touchdowns over 12 games last season. He’s scored 16 times for the Patriots since the start of the 2013 season, when New England swung a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 250-pound running back.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the deal is just one year.
Blount missed the postseason last year after landing on injured reserve with a hip injury. During playoff runs in 2013 and 2014, Blount rushed for 361 yards and seven touchdowns—while averaging 4.8 yards per carry—over five games, including New England’s Super Bowl win.
Over 33 games and 14 starts in New England, Blount has averaged 4.6 yards per carry.
The veteran running back will now return to a positional group that includes Dion Lewis, James White, Donald Brown and Brandon Bolden, among others. He’ll be expected to resume his role as the Patriots’ go-to power back, while Lewis, White and Brown can handle the receiving and third down roles that are so important in the New England offense.