UPDATE: Jeremy Hill will miss the rest of the Patriots season with a torn ACL.
So with Hill gone for the rest of the season, what are some of the options for the Patriots?
Ralph Webb: The practice squadder was third on the team in rushing in the preseason, and really popped against the Redskins, rushing for a pair of touchdowns and looking pretty sturdy between the tackles. Admittedly, a lot of that was in garbage time, but he did well, and earned a spot on the practice squad as a result. The problem? If you promote Webb, you run the risk of losing him again if you try and theoretically get him back to the practice squad if there is an excess of running backs later in the season.
Jace Billingsley: The Danny Woodhead clone piled up crazy yardage as a running back and wide receiver in college, amassing nearly 6,000 all-purpose yards at Eastern Oregon. The 5-foot-9, 189-pounder is a long shot, but he also has punt return experience, and could provide another body at the position after Sunday's shakey outing by Riley McCarron.
Kenneth Farrow, Khalfani Muhammad: Two backs who were around briefly this summer who didn't survive final cuts, they could be added as depth pieces in the short term.
Kenjon Barner and Matthew Dayes: The Patriots worked out these two backs this week. Barner is a 5-foot-9. 195-pounder who has spent four years in the league, the last three with the Eagles. He has 317 career rushing yards and a 4.1 yards per carry average, with his best season coming in 2016 when he had 27 carries for 129 yards for Philly. Days checks in at 5-foot-9 and 205 pounds, and had five carries for 13 yards last season with the Browns, his only year in the NFL.
Nothing: The Patriots could stand pat, rely on James White and Rex Burkhead next week, while Sony Michel continues to work his way back from knee issues. It would give them very little margin for error and mean they'd be leaning even more on the likes of White and Burkhead, but remains a possibility.
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Jeremy Hill's right knee was struck laterally, causing a valgus injury. Foot was partially planted at the time.
Best case: Significant MCL sprain, out 4-6 weeks
Worst case: Multiple ligaments - ACL, MCL. Season over.
Stay tuned for updates. pic.twitter.com/ok9FwmwId3
— DocFlynn (@jessdeede) September 10, 2018
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