Lamar Miller is heading to New England. The veteran running back is signing with the Patriots pending a physical, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). It’ll be a one-year deal for Miller.
It was just about one year ago that the 29-year-old tore his ACL in a preseason contest while playing for the Texans. As Schefter notes on Twitter, the running back is “said to he fully recovered and ready to play this season.”
Miller had been with the Texans since 2016, and he earned a Pro Bowl nod during his last healthy season. During that 2018 campaign, the veteran rushed for five scores and 973 yards on 210 carries (4.6 yards per carry) while adding 25 receptions for 163 receiving yards and one touchdown. While he only rushed for 18 yards during that season’s playoff loss to the Colts, he did add eight receptions for 63 yards.
Prior to his stint with the Texans, the former fourth-rounder spent the first four seasons of his career with the Dolphins. This included 2014 and 2015 campaigns where he averaged 985.5 rushing yards and eight touchdowns per season.
Miller is joining a very crowded depth chart in New England, and today’s signing makes it even more uncertain. Sony Michel disappointed during his sophomore campaign (and he’s currently sitting on the PUP), but he still managed to finish the 2019 season with 912 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. The team is also rostering versatile veterans like James White and Rex Burkhead, and there was some hope that 2019 third-rounder Damien Harris could contribute following a pseudo-redshirt year.
Of course, that running game should also feature plenty of Cam Newton. While Miller’s path to a roster spot is more uncertain than the quarterback’s, the duo could be called on to lead a revamped New England offense in 2020.
Huh, interesting. Figured we were pretty much set at RB with Michel, White, Burkhead and Harris. I was hoping they’d use a bit of their new found cap space to make a run at Clay Matthews/Everson Griffin.
Bill likes to make his players compete for their roster spots. He loves going by the committee and could use up to four backs in one game. Miller was a pretty well-rounded player prior to his injury and he’s dirt cheap, so it seems pretty logical to me. If I were to guess, either Michel or Harris is likely in the doghouse. Michel has been a plodding disappointment thus far as a former first rounder and Harris has barely seen the field for some reason
Now that he signed, can he opt out too?
It’s MILLER Time in New England !!
Are they collecting RBs? How many do teams normally have 4 5 ?
I can see how this is a new market inefficiency. Increased risk of players going down with concussions or Covid means you might need 6 or 7 this year. Also, usual Pats voodoo means this somehow nets them an extra 2nd rounder in 2021.
Love it. Been a big fan of Lamar Miller for a long time. Can’t wait to pronounce his name in a Boston accent… Lamah Millah
Holy smokes, the Post-2004 run of success in Boston made me forget the joy that was Kevin Millar. Now I’m actually super excited about the possibility to have this back.
Lamar Millar runs it wicked far.
Bill picked the wrong RB from Georgia in that draft. Could have had Nick Chubb, just another poor draft pick from belicheck