In an unexpected turn of events, former Patriots running back Damien Harris signed with an AFC Rival. The free-agent running back has reportedly signed with the Buffalo Bills, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter.
Harris later confirmed the news, tweeting out his love for the Bills Mafia.
The 26-year-old entered the NFL as a third-round selection by the Patriots in the 2019 draft. Harris spent his rookie season on the sidelines, but when Sony Michel left the Patriots during the offseason, the 5′ 11″ running back began to see an increase in snaps. During the 2020 season, Harris ran for 691 yards on 137 carries, scoring two touchdowns. However, he had a breakout campaign in 2021 as he rushed for a career-high 929 yards with 15 touchdowns on 202 carries. The Alabama alum had a rough 2022 year as he suffered a hamstring injury in Week 13 and wasn’t healthy the rest of the season. Harris played 11 games during his 2022 campaign rushing for 423 yards on 106 carries.
Second-year running back Rhamondre Stevenson took the RB1 job when Harris was absent. Before the 2022 season, Damien Harris looked to put up big numbers and complement Oklahoma State running back Rhamondre Stevenson. The two were expected to lead one of the best running units in the NFL. However, as he entered his contract year, he had a series of unfortunate injuries. Harris’s IR weeks caused sophomore back Rhamondre Stevenson to take on a big load.
Harris, a more prominent runner, was utilized as a third-down back. Harris wasn’t used much in the passing game and had trouble with drops throughout his tenure in New England. The running back has spent all four years of his career in New England combining for 39 games, with 458 carries for 2,124 yards and 20 touchdowns. In the passing game, Harris caught 41 receptions for 288 yards.
Many thought Harris would re-sign with New England on a “prove it” deal, but the Bills decided to add Harris to fill the void left by Devin Singletary. The Houston Texans agreed to terms with former Bills running back Devin Singletary on Monday. The Bills know Harris well, as the running back likes to put up productive numbers against the division foe. Harris has rushed for 364 yards on 57 carries with five touchdowns against Buffalo in his career.
The signing provides semi-good news for Patriots fans, as the Bills are likely out on signing or trading for Derrick Henry, Austin Ekler, and Dalvin Cook. Harris joins James Cook in the backfield for Buffalo, and they should pair nicely. While Harris should get the red-zone snaps, Cook should be the go-to receiving back.
For the Patriots, the backfield now consists of Rhamondre Stevenson, James Robinson, Kevin Harris, Pierre Strong Jr., Ty Montgomery, and J.J. Taylor. Stevenson should continue to excel as a dominant running back, rushing for over 1,000 yards last season.
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My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
