Bolden will presumably become the first and second down back while James White fills in as the third down and red zone threat.
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The injury bug has hit the Patriots harder than most other teams.
Blount, who started the 2014 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers after signing a two-year contract earlier that offseason, was ultimately waived after 11 games after he walked off the field disgruntled prior to the game against the Tennessee Titans ended. It’s the second season-ending injury to a Patriots’ running back after Dion Lewis tore his left ACL in November. Though Bolden played less than 20 percent of the team’s snaps on offense before Sunday’s game, he was ready to go at a moment’s notice.
With Brandon Bolden and James White now the only active running backs on the roster, the Patriots are going to have to make some moves.
Blount was replaced in Week 14 by Brandon Bolden, who has 35 carries this season for 110 yards. Jackson has never won a Super Bowl, and the appeal of playing under head coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots franchise is likely an attractive situation.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Jackson played for Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels when McDaniels held the same role with the St. Louis Rams in 2011. The biggest loss for the weekend was losing LeGarrette Blount. He rushed for over 140 yards twice in New England’s last two playoff runs, both coming in victories over the Indianapolis Colts. He led the Patriots on the ground in 10 of the team’s 13 games and is the only New England runner to go over 100 yards this season, racking up 129 on November 8 against Washington. Rob Gronkowski missed a game due to a knee injury but was able to return in last week’s win over the Texans.
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NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports “nothings imminent” between the Patriots and free agent RB Steven Jackson.
