The New England Patriots released sprinting Lamar Miller, a source told Adam Shifter of ESPN on Saturday.
Miller, who missed the whole last season due to a rupture in the AFC Champions League, signed for the Patriots in mid-August. He returned to training last week after being on the list physically unable to perform.
“We threw him into the fire very quickly just because we are running out of time as you can be very physically in training,” Patriots coach Evan Viers said on his back on Wednesday. “So we wanted to give it a slight taste of the bounce a little bit. He did a great job.
“I really expect Lamar to recover and be the man he was, but I’m sure that will take some time.”
The Patriots are back Soni Michel as their first return choice, but he’s still coming back from off-season foot surgery, so it may be limited early in the season.
James White is the best pass back, while Rex Birkhead provides valuable variety. Damian Harris, chosen in the third round of 2019 from Alabama, is expected to play a significant role once he recovers from a hand injury that could threaten his availability early in the season.
Additionally, uncut free agent JJ Taylor (Arizona) charges a spot on the list.
During his three active seasons in Houston, Miller, who signed a four-year $ 26 million extension in 2016, ran 2,934 yards and 13 landings on 716 aircraft. He also got 92 assists and scored five goals. Texas Miller’s best season came in 2018, when he averaged 4.6 yards per load.
He started his career with the Miami Dolphins, who picked him in the fourth round of the 2012 draft, and has 7,429 melee yards in his career and 40 overall touchdowns.
ESPN’s Mike Rees contributed to this report.
