The New England Patriots recently extended an invitation to former Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott for a free-agent visit during the summer. Now, Elliott is joining the Patriots, who were in need of additional depth in their running back unit. Prior to training camp, the Patriots released James Robinson, a free-agent addition, leaving them with a relatively thin running back group consisting of five players, including the versatile Ty Montgomery.
However, Montgomery has been sidelined for most of training camp, and the team has been cautious with Rhamondre Stevenson, the lead running back. Due to Stevenson’s limited workload and Montgomery’s injury, only Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris, both second-year running backs, along with veteran J.J. Taylor played in the preseason opener last Thursday night.
While Stevenson holds the RB1 role for the Patriots, the team had a need for experienced veteran depth to support the third-year back. Harris and Strong have displayed potential but have only had limited opportunities as rookies, making them relatively unknowns. On the other hand, Montgomery has struggled to stay healthy in consecutive training camps.
As for Elliott, he was released by the Dallas Cowboys in March, following a down year in the 2022 season, as a cap-saving measure with a post-June 1st designation. Elliott had spent seven seasons with the Cowboys and was dealing with knee issues in the previous two seasons. As his explosiveness declined, the Cowboys relied more on backup Tony Pollard, who received the franchise tag this offseason.
Although Elliott managed to score 12 rushing touchdowns as a valuable goal-line back last season, he recorded a career-low of 876 rushing yards with an average of just 3.8 yards per rush. In comparison, Pollard averaged 5.2 yards per rush and earned a Pro Bowl selection despite Elliott being the starter.
While it’s evident that Elliott’s prime years may be behind him, he can still contribute as a dependable runner between the tackles and in short-yardage situations. He is also known for his reliability in pass protection during blitz pickups. Although he may not possess the same burst as before, he retains enough ability to serve as an experienced backup to Stevenson.
Last season, Stevenson played over 66 percent of the Patriots’ offensive snaps and had 279 touches in his second year. The team needs to better manage his workload this season, and that’s where Elliott comes in. Elliott’s ability to run the ball effectively on early downs reduces Stevenson’s workload, allowing him to focus on his involvement in the passing game, where he has established good chemistry with quarterback Mac Jones.
The Patriots sought a reliable veteran backup to support Stevenson and reportedly found that in Elliott.
