A shoulder injury limited veteran running back Ty Montgomery to only one game in 2022. In 2023, he could have a significant role in the New England offense.
Via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, retired Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears said Montgomery could be the team’s third-down tailback this season.
“I think he has a great chance to be the third-down back and take some of the load off Rhamondre [Stevenson], so [Rhamondre] can be fresh when we really need him on first and second down carrying the ball as the featured guy,” Fears said on the 6 Rings and Football Things podcast, per Reiss. “We need some help for Rhamondre, and I think Ty is looking really good right now. He’s healthy.”
Montgomery got his start in 2015, as a receiver with the Packers. The next year, he switched to running back.
He spent more than three seasons in Green Bay. He was traded to the Ravens during the 2018 season, days after an ill-fated decision to return a kickoff from the end zone, when the Packers trailed the Rams 29-27 with just over two minutes to play. He fumbled, the Rams recovered, and that was that for Montgomery in Green Bay.
He spent 2019 with the Jets and 2020 and 2021 with the Saints. He joined the Patriots last year.
The Patriots lost Damien Harris to free agency, replacing him with James Robinson. Stevenson is the No. 1 tailback.