NFL

Report: Patriots RB Jeremy Hill Out for Season

New England Patriots running back Jeremy Hill is out for the season with a torn ACL, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Hill hurt his knee in Sunday's season opener vs. the Houston Texans after carrying the ball four times for 25 yards. 

Hill, 25, signed with the Patriots in the off-season after spending the first four years of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals. He had a strong training camp, overtaking Mike Gillislee on New England's depth chart. Gillislee was subsequently cut and signed with the New Orleans Saints.

Brandon Bolden, primarily a special teams contributor, was also released at the end of the preseason.

The Patriots now have only two healthy running backs on their roster in James White and Rex Burkhead, each of whom contributes more in the passing game. Burkhead finished as the team's leading rusher on Sunday with 64 yards on 18 carries; he has only one game in his career in which he's topped 100 yards rushing, while White has none.

Sony Michel, the No. 31 overall pick in the 2018 Draft, was inactive for Sunday's game as he works his way back from a knee injury that cost him the entire preseason.

There's now a glaring need for running back depth in Foxboro. One possible candidate to join the 53-man roster is Ralph Webb, who spent training camp with the Patriots before being cut and later re-signed to the practice squad.

Notable players who are currently free agents include 31-year-old Jamaal Charles, who spent last season with the Denver Broncos, or 28-year-old Eddie Lacy, who spent last season with the Seattle Seahawks.

Regardless of who it is, New England will almost certainly be making a roster move to address the running back position.

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