Report: Running back Stevan Ridley leaves Patriots to sign with Jets

Stevan Ridley had to wait a bit in free agency, but he has a new home.

The running back spent his first four NFL seasons with the New England Patriots but will be running the ball for the rival New York Jets, assuming he’s healthy, after reportedly signing a contract on Wednesday. Ridley tore his MCL and ACL in the Patriots Week 6 win over the Buffalo Bills and missed the remainder of the Patriots’ championship season.

Ridley signed a one-year contract. He visited the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins before settling on signing with the Jets.

It hurt Ridley’s stock not only that he got hurt and was replaced ably by two former undrafted rookies, Jonas Gray and LeGarrette Blount (who was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers midseason), but also because Ridley has carried with him a well-earned fumbling reputation.

But he’s a former 1,200-yard, 12-TD rusher who can help the Jets once he’s ready to go. Chris Ivory is the projected starter right now, with Bilal Powell the jack-of-all-trades back, and Ridley does have some overlapping skills to Ivory. But that’s a pretty good power 1-2 punch for a team that will have to run the ball with its share of QB questions.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm