In the New England Patriots' new-look backfield, running back Ty Montgomery has seemingly fallen between the cracks.
Considering his lack of availability, though, it isn't too hard to see why. Montgomery played just one game last season, recording two carries for -2 yards and three catches for 15 yards before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in the opener against the Miami Dolphins. His injury luck has sadly not gotten any better this offseason, as he has been out since training camp with an undisclosed ailment.
Things may be looking up for Montgomery, though, as according to the Boston Globe, the running back is getting closer to returning to the lineup.
"League source says Ty Montgomery is 'getting better' but is still considered day-to-day," Price wrote on Twitter.
League source says Ty Montgomery is “getting better” but is still considered day-to-day. No real positional redundancy there, but it’s still going to be interesting to see where he fits in with Zeke’s arrival, at least from a pure numbers perspective.
— Christopher Price (@cpriceglobe) August 18, 2023
When Montgomery returns, though, it remains to be seen just how much of a role he will have. Now he's not just sharing the backfield with feature back Rhamondre Stevenson, but also former Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott whom the Patriots signed last week.
Before coming to the Patriots last offseason, Montgomery had bounced around the league quite a lot in his eight-year career. The former Stanford standout had spent time with the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets and New Orleans Saints before arriving in New England. In his career, Montgomery has over 1,100 yards as both a rusher and receiver, and he has been a big part of his teams' return games.
In a crowded Patriots backfield, Montgomery is fighting just to make the final roster. If he can get back on the field for New England's final preseason game against the Tennessee Titans on Friday night, it could go a long way towards boosting his case.
More Patriots coverage from Sports Illustrated here.
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