Hill's versatility earned him a roster spot

Hill's versatility earned him a roster spot

FOXBORO — It was more down than up for Jeremy Hill last season, which turned out to be his fourth and final one in Cincinnati.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound running back started the first seven games of the season for the Bengals, but received just 37 carries and saw four targeted passes come his way as rookie Joe Mixon received the bulk of the work. [...]

Hill's versatility earned him a roster spot

FOXBORO — It was more down than up for Jeremy Hill last season, which turned out to be his fourth and final one in Cincinnati.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound running back started the first seven games of the season for the Bengals, but received just 37 carries and saw four targeted passes come his way as rookie Joe Mixon received the bulk of the work.

Then Hill, an impending free agent, suffered a season-ending ankle injury that landed him on IR in mid-November.

Fast forward 10 months and Hill is positioned to be a key contributor to the Patriots after fending off a challenge from Mike Gillislee for the “big back” role this summer to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. Still, winning a job and doing one’s job are not to be confused.

“You can never be satisfied,” Hill said following a recent practice. “There’s so much more work to do, but it’s definitely a blessing for me to get the opportunity to be on this team and contribute in any way that I can. So I definitely can’t take that for granted, for sure.”

While highly touted rookie Sony Michel, versatile veteran Rex Burkhead and Gillislee all missed time during training camp and the preseason with injuries, Hill was healthy and productive.

The 25-year-old Louisiana State alum averaged 4.1 yards a carry — matching his career average — scored a touchdown and caught two passes in three exhibition games while displaying power between the tackles and a bit of a burst at the second level, the latter a byproduct of shedding 10 pounds in the offseason.

Hill’s presence is welcome, what with Gillislee in New Orleans after being released and the status of the recovering Michel and Burkhead unclear for Sunday’s season opener against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. James White is the only other running back on the roster.

“He’s a smart guy and he has experience in this league, so he understands defenses and run reads and things like that,” coach Bill Belichick said. “He’s done a good job in all the areas we’ve asked him to work in — running the ball, passing game, special teams.

“So, I think he has some versatility and has some experience, obviously, and had production for us, not only in preseason games but also in practices. So, we’ll see how it goes, but he’s done a lot of good things to this point.”

Hill — as is the case with White, Burkhead and, at the collegiate level, Michel — is a proven pass catcher. He has 67 receptions in 54 career games with an 81.7 catch percentage. (For comparison’s sake, White checks in at 74.2.)

Hill credits former LSU assistant Cam Cameron, who previously worked with Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego, for developing that part of his game.

“He coached LT for about six or seven years and told me LT was amazing not only at running the ball, but also catching it out of the backfield,” Hill said. “That was something he pushed me every day to do and something I got a lot better at under his tutelage. So that’s something I can definitely do out of the backfield.”

That versatility extends to the oft overlooked third phase of the game as Hill can contribute on special teams. So he brings plenty of value at a modest price of $1.5 million on the one-year deal he signed March 17, three days after free agency began.

“It’s a third of the entire game,” Hill said. “So that’s obviously something that’s very important. If you can make an impact in that phase of the game you’re definitely helping your team and that’s obviously helping you win games.

“So definitely that’s something I pride myself on. Being better at special teams is something I can help my team, for sure.”

And after descending last season in Cincinnati, Hill finds himself ascending in New England and positioned to help the Patriots.