Three Days After Signing, LeGarrette Blount Shines in Pats’ Win

Just like in 2013, it was “Blount Force Trauma” for the Patriots on Sunday.

As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported earlier in the day, the Patriots made running back LeGarrette Blount active and the 27-year-old had a strong game in their 34-9 beating of the Detroit Lions at Gillette Stadium.

Blount got the bulk of the carries, gaining 78 yards on 12 rushing attempts with two touchdowns against the No. 1 run defense in the NFL.

“I was prepared for anything,” Blount said after the game. “I came in and they told me, ‘Just be prepared for whatever we use you for.’ So, I just made sure I was ready. And the offensive line just went out there and did their job. They did a really good job. They were opening up some nice spaces for me to run through. When you get into the second level you have to break a couple tackles and that’s what makes the long runs. But for the most part, [the Lions] played well, we just played better.”

First-year running back Jonas Gray, who was coming off of a 201-yard, four touchdown game against the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday, didn’t see a single snap, possibly as discipline for showing up late to practice on Friday.

Blount was signed by the Patriots after being released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, one day after he left the field in their game against the Tennessee Titans while there was still time on the clock.

Blount returns to a Patriots team that he joined after a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in April 2013. He rushed for 772 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season for the Patriots, including a monster 189-yard, two touchdown performance in Week 17 against the Bills. Blount backed that up with an equally-impressive 166-yard, four touchdown day in the Pats’ AFC divisional win over the Colts.

“It’s kind of difficult considering the fact that I only came in a few days ago,” Blount said about the quick turnaround. “So, I was used to hearing and listening to different terminology. But for the most part, as we went along, I started picking things up. So, it’s not bad.”

After becoming a free agent after the 2013 season, Blount signed a two-year, $3.85 million contract with the Steelers. He rushed for 266 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games with the Steelers before his release.