34 Rex Burkhead RB

Jeff Howe of The Athletic suggests that Burkhead (knee) could be back with the Patriots next season.

The versatile running back, who's slated to become an unrestricted free agent, was having a solid season with the team prior to suffering a torn ACL in November. Given that context, there's no guarantee that Burkhead will be ready for the start of the 2021 campaign, so Howe believes that it could "make sense for both sides" to see the 30-year-old -- who spent the last four seasons with New England -- re-sign, then "open the season on the physically unable to perform list and see if he can contribute later."

Burkhead announced that he underwent successful surgery Tuesday to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, Michael Giardi of NFL Network reports.

Given that Burkhead -- an impending free agent -- suffered the knee injury Nov. 22, he likely won't be ready to go for OTAs next spring, and his availability for the start of NFL training camps could also be affected. The 30-year-old running back concluded his fourth season in New England with 466 total yards and six touchdowns across 10 games.

Burkhead (knee) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

This was simply a transactional designation as Burkhead already ruled himself out for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL. The veteran back will aim to be healthy in time for 2021 training camp.

Burkhead (knee) announced Tuesday via his personal Twitter account that he will miss the remainder of the season.

Though the Patriots have yet to confirm as much, Burkhead is believed to have suffered a torn ACL to his right knee during Sunday's loss to the Texans. Assuming that's the case, Burkhead will likely undergo surgery in the coming days as he aims to get back to full speed before teams convene for training camp in 2021. In the meantime, the Patriots are likely to rely more heavily on James White as the clear top change-of-pace option behind lead ballcarrier Damien Harris.

The Patriots are concerned that Burkhead tore the ACL in his right knee during Sunday's 27-20 loss at Houston, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.

Burkhead suffered a knee injury in the second half and was unable to return to the game. If the Pats' fears come to fruition, he'll end the campaign with 274 rushing yards, 192 yards receiving and six total touchdowns in 10 games. In that scenario, James White would become the team's primary pass-catching option out of the backfield.

Burkhead was forced out of Sunday's game against the Texans with a right knee injury.

With Burkhead out of the game and quite possibly beyond, Damien Harris and James White are on hand to handle the Patriots' rushing duties Sunday, while Sony Michel -- who was inactive for the contest -- is a candidate to rejoin the mix in Week 12.

Burkhead rushed six times for 31 yards and caught four passes (five targets) for 35 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 23-17 win over Baltimore.

Damien Harris stole the show on offense with 121 rushing yards, but Burkhead thrived in his role as a receiving threat out of the backfield, which used to be James White's assignment. Even though Harris dominated the carry shares, it is worth noting that Burkhead was on the field when the Patriots got close to the goal line. The versatile veteran now has three rushing touchdowns and three receiving scores through nine games. Burkhead doesn't receive the volume of touches to be a reliable starting fantasy back, but his well-rounded skillset and nose for the end zone has utility in deeper formats and as a bargain DFS option.

Burkhead rushed 12 times for 56 yards and a touchdown in Monday night's 30-27 win over the Jets. He also caught all three of his targets for 11 yards.

Burkhead vultured a one-yard touchdown in the third quarter, marking his first score since his three-touchdown outburst in Week 3 versus the Raiders. However, Burkhead also put together his highest rushing total of the campaign Monday, and all those yards came before teammate Damien Harris exited late with a chest injury. While Harris' status in advance of Week 10's matchup against the Ravens could be important to track, Burkhead nonetheless sports solid momentum going into that encounter.

Burkhead carried six times for 26 yards and caught his only target for five yards in Sunday's 24-21 loss to the Bills.

Burkhead was on the field for 32 of a possible 65 snaps on offense Week 8, while Damien Harris logged 20 snaps and 16 carries (for 101 yards and a TD), and James White was out there for 31 snaps en route to recording two carries and two catches. It's a timeshare arrangement that doesn't give Burkhead much of a weekly floor, with Harris serving as the Patriots' primary ballcarrier and White the team's top receiving threat out of the backfield.

Burkhead carried four times for 12 yards and caught three passes (on four targets) for 35 yards in Sunday's 33-6 loss to the 49ers.

Burkhead was on the field for 25 of a possible 52 snaps on offense, as he continues to work in a timeshare with Damien Harris (21 snaps, 10 carries) and James White (10 snaps, no carries/one catch). White's limited involvement Week 7 wasn't typical, and looking ahead to this coming Sunday's game against the Bills, Burkhead remains a hit-or-miss fantasy option due to his unreliable weekly volume.

Burkhead rushed five times for 14 yards in Sunday's 18-12 loss to Denver.

Burkhead, who wasn't targeted in the contest, was on the field for 18 of a possible 57 snaps on offense, while working in a Week 6 backfield timeshare with Damien Harris (12 snaps, six carries) and James White (31 snaps, four carries and eight catches). As long as the Patriots continue to employ a committee approach in their ground game, Burkhead will be a hit-or-miss fantasy option whose weekly ceiling hinges on game scripts and flows.

Burkhead rushed 11 times for 45 yards and brought in his only target for five yards in the Patriots' 26-10 loss to the Chiefs on Monday night.

With Sony Michel (quadriceps) on injured reserve, Burkhead was bound to see a boost in opportunity, and accordingly he recorded a season-high number of carries. However, second-year man Damien Harris stood out by gaining 100 yards on 17 rushes, potentially earning the right to helm the backfield again in a Week 5 matchup against the Broncos. Burkhead was solid in his own right, and given coach Bill Belichick's sometimes mercurial deployment of his running backs. it's possible the veteran rises to the forefront at some point during Michel's absence.

Burkhead rushed six times for 49 yards and two touchdowns while adding seven catches for 49 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 36-20 win over the Raiders.

Burkhead operated as New England's pass-catching back with James White (personal) sitting out a second consecutive week, and he made the most of the opportunity with an 11-yard touchdown catch in the final minute of the first half en route to leading the team in receiving yards on the afternoon. While Sony Michel (nine carries for 117 yards) was the leading rusher and J.J. Taylor led the team with 11 carries (for 43 yards), Burkhead was the most opportunistic running back, with rushing scores of five and two yards in the second half. The Patriots will distribute touches out of the backfield between a few guys every week, but at least until White returns, Burkhead has the highest floor thanks to his pass-catching ability. Game script should favor Burkhead and the rest of New England's pass catchers in Week 4 against the Chiefs.

Burkhead had six carries for two yards and four receptions for 47 yards in Sunday's loss to Seattle.

Burkhead technically led all Patriot backs in playing time (72 percent of offensive snaps), but Sony Michel ended up with one extra carry and Cam Newton stole all the goal-line work. The lack of touchdown opportunities hurts Burkhead's overall value, but he remains involved enough in the pass game to potentially have PPR value heading into a Week 3 matchup with Oakland, especially if James White (personal) still is away from the team.

Burkhead was on the field for 19 of a possible 64 snaps on offense in Sunday's 21-11 win over the Dolphins, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. In the process, Burkhead carried seven times for 32 yards and wasn't targeted in the passing game.

Meanwhile, Sony Michel (10 carries) and James White (five carries) each saw 19 snaps, while rookie J.J. Taylor (four carries) was on the field for nine. As long as the Patriots employ a backfield committee, Burkhead will remain a hit-or-miss option, with a fantasy ceiling at the mercy of game scripts and flows that will change on a weekly basis.

The Patriots head into Week 1 with a backfield led by Sony Michel, Burkhead and James White, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Rookie J.J. Taylor is also in the depth mix, but with Lamar Miller no longer on the team and Damien Harris (finger/IR) slated to miss at least three games, Burkhead does have a path to early-season touches, especially if the Patriots elect to ease projected top option Michel back into the mix, given that he's bouncing back from a foot injury. Accurately predicting the Patriots' carry allotments is a frustrating endeavor, but with less competition to contend with, Burkhead could see enough of an early-season role to merit deep league/flex consideration.

Burkhead is facing increased backfield competition after the Patriots signed Lamar Miller (knee) on Monday, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.

Burkhead could be in line for a solid opportunity on one hand, with Sony Michel (foot) uncertain for Week 1 and Brandon Bolden having opted out of the season. On the other hand, the Patriots saw fit to add a veteran in Miller, whose dual-threat skill set mirrors Burkhead's. In addition to Burkhead and Miller, second-year back Damien Harris also lingers on the roster, while passing-down specialist James White could also factor more prominently into the running game if Michel misses time. In the event Michel gains full clearance for the start of the season, the distribution of snaps and touches in the New England backfield would become even more difficult to predict.

Burkhead and the Patriots have agreed to a reworked contract that frees up nearly $1 million in cap space for the team, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

The team is giving Burkhead a $550,000 signing bonus in exchange for dropping his base salary from $2.5 million to $1.05 million in the final season of a three-year contract. This improves his chances to retain a spot on the 53-man roster, but he may still need to compete with Brandon Bolden in a battle that will be determined in part by special teams value. The Patriots seem to appreciate Burkhead's versatility, but he may not be needed on offense if Damien Harris steps into a larger role. Burkhead is 30 years old and has missed 15 games in his three seasons with the Patriots.

Burkhead carried six times for 48 yards and hauled in his only target for six yards in Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Dolphins.

Burkhead finishes the 2019 regular season with 65 carries for 302 yards and three TDs to go along with 27 catches (on 38 targets) for 279 yards in 13 games. Looking ahead to the postseason, the 29-year-old -- who is under contract with the Patriots through the 2020 season -- will continue to work in a complementary role behind lead back Sony Michel and pass-catching ace James White.

Burkhead ran for 20 yards and a touchdown on five carries while losing one fumble, and he corralled all four of his targets for 77 receiving yards during Saturday's 24-17 win against Buffalo.

Burkhead burst through the Buffalo defense for 18 yards on New England's opening offensive drive, only to fumble the football and see Micah Hyde scoop it up for a 31-yard gain in the opposite direction. With the 29-year-old Burkhead having established himself as a reliable piece to New England's attack over the past three seasons, he wasn't transitioned out of the game plan but rather bestowed with an additional seven offensive touches. His most critical contribution came on the Patriots' penultimate drive, as Burkhead's one-yard TD run with 5:06 to go provided New England with a lead that would prove insurmountable for the upset-minded Bills. Burkhead now has rushing scores in consecutive games, heading into a Week 17 matchup against a Miami defense that has surrendered 14 rushing TDs through its first 14 regular-season outings of 2019.