4 things to know about Patriots running back Kenjon Barner
The punt returner may be valuable on special teams soon.
The New England Patriots signed running back Kenjon Barner earlier this week, filling up the last of their open roster spots.
Barner is entering his 5th year in the NFL and has been working out with the Patriots since Sept. 11. In less than a week, the former Philadelphia Eagle has noticed that New England isn’t like other NFL teams.
“You hear things being away from here,” Barner said, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “But being here, you can actually see the differences from the places that I’ve been.”
Barner was a sixth-round draft pick in 2013 and was signed to the Carolina Panthers. He played a limited role in his rookie season, mostly practicing with special teams. He had his first stint with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2014-16 before being placed on injured reserve for a hamstring injury in December 2016.
Barner was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers in March 2017, but was released in September, allowing him to be signed with the Eagles for his second stint.
Prior to signing with the Patriots last week, Barner spent the offseason with the Carolina Panthers before being released as part of final roster cuts.
Here are a few things you should know about the running back.
He’s a Super Bowl LII Champ.
Barner played with the Eagles from 2014-16, first as part of their practice squad before making the roster. During his second stint with the Eagles in 2o17, Barner and the Patriots met in Super Bowl LII, a sore topic in New England. The Eagles defeated the Patriots 41-33, earning their first Super Bowl win in franchise history.
He’s a reliable punt returner.
Following Riley McCarron’s release from the Patriots after a muffed punt, there was a lot of speculation about who would be returning punts for New England in his absence.
But no fear– Barner is experienced in doing so. During his two stints with the Eagles, Barner spent a lot of time working with special teams and returned 27 punts in the 2017 season. As one of few Patriots with punt returning experience, Barner might find himself in an important role when the Patriots face the Jaguars in their AFC Championship rematch.
Barner and Patrick Chung were college teammates.
Soon after his arrival, Barner found a familiar face in New England. Safety Patrick Chung and Barner both played at the University of Oregon under then-head coach Chip Kelly. As the new guy in the locker room, Chung seems to have been showing Barner the ropes and helped him get his footing in New England.
“[Chung’s] taken me under his wing, just like he did in college,” Barner said. “Showing up at my dorm room at 5 a.m. … It’s kind of the same situation. And then in the running back room, a great group of guys from [James] White to Rex [Burkhead]. Those guys know this system — they have no problem helping me whatsoever.”
He likes New England’s style.
Barner was reunited with his college head coach Chip Kelly when he was signed to the Eagles in 2014. As head coach of the Eagles, Kelly brought coaching styles to Philadelphia that Barner was familiar with.
Now in New England, Barner has realized that the Patriots’ “attention to detail” is like nothing the 28-year-old has ever experienced. But upon closer look, the Patriots’ style might not be so foreign at all.
Bill Belichick and Chip Kelly are longtime friends, something that was evident in the regular joint practices of the Eagles and Patriots when the two teams met. Being friends and coaches for so long, it’s no surprise that Belichick and Kelly share similar coaching styles.
“From the time that I’ve been here, it reminds me a lot of what I did in college with Chip [Kelly at the University of Oregon],” Barner said. “They don’t waste time. There’s no time wasted and everything’s efficient. We can get our work done. And the attention to detail is something that I’ve never experienced.”
