Running back Rex Burkhead signed a new deal with the New England Patriots on Tuesday according to ESPN’s Field Yates, citing sources. Details of his new contract have yet to be disclosed. Burkhead spent the first four years of his career in Cincinnati.
The Patriots have signed former Bengals RB Rex Burkhead, per league source.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 14, 2017
Report: New England Patriots Sign Rex Burkhead
Burkhead’s NFL career started out slow, as a hamstring injury kept him inactive for most of his rookie season in 2013. In 2014 and 2015 he saw a lot more playing time. Most of his playing time came on special teams or in a third down back role, used more often as a receiving threat than a running threat.
In 2014 the Bengals entered the playoffs with a roster that had been heavily impacted by injuries. Wide receiver A.J. Green and tight end Jermaine Gresham, who ranked number one and two in receptions for the Bengals that season respectively, where among those inactive. Although lacking the stature to play tight end, Burkhead stepped into an H-back role filling in for Gresham.
In 2016, Burkhead again played mostly on special teams until injuries lead to an increased role late in the season and eventually his first start at running back in week 17. That week he ran the ball 27 times for 119 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Burkhead has shown that he is a versatile player who can have success in a variety of roles. He has been used more in the passing game than as a runner, but with his week 17 performance, the 5’10″, 218 pound running back has shown potential to be an every down back.
The Bengals selected Burkhead in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL draft. Burkhead played four years at Nebraska, earning the starting job as a junior. Unfortunately, injuries cut Burkhead’s senior year short causing him to miss six games. The Plano Senior High School (TX) product graduated from Nebraska in three and a half years before entering the draft.
