The New England Patriots have bolstered their running back corps by signing veteran Trayveon Williams on Wednesday. The 28-year-old running back brings six seasons of NFL experience, having played primarily with the Cincinnati Bengals. To accommodate this new addition, the Patriots released defensive tackle Eric Johnson from their 90-man roster.
Trayveon Williams is no stranger to the field, having participated in every game for the Bengals in the past two seasons, though a significant portion of his contributions came on special teams. In the previous year, he logged only 10 offensive snaps, but that number increased in 2023, where he was on the field for 14.3% of offensive plays, totaling 156 snaps, while also maintaining a strong presence on special teams with 294 snaps.
Throughout his career, Williams has accumulated 307 rushing yards and 74 receiving yards from 15 catches. Notably, he has also served as a kick returner, averaging 22.5 yards on 33 returns.
His addition complements an already dynamic running back group for the Patriots, which features Rhamondre Stevenson, Treveyon Henderson, Antonio Gibson, Terrell Jennings, Lan Larison, and fullback Brock Lame.
On the defensive side, Eric Johnson’s release follows a brief stint with the Patriots after being claimed off waivers last summer, during which he recorded 17 tackles in 11 games. The Patriots have addressed their defensive needs by adding several new defensive tackles this offseason, enhancing their depth chart with players like Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, and Khyiris Tonga among others.
With these recent moves, the Patriots seem poised to make a strong push, not only in enhancing their roster depth but also in providing competition for positions across the board. Fans can look forward to seeing how Williams integrates into the team’s strategy and the potential for an exciting season ahead.