The Patriots have agreed to sign free-agent running back Antonio Gibson, a source confirmed to the Herald.

Gibson, 25, rushed for 265 yards on 65 carries with a touchdown and added 389 yards and two touchdowns on 48 catches last season while taking on a reduced role behind Brian Robinson Jr. with the Commanders.

Related Articles

Patriots free agency tracker and grades: Every signing, rumor and breaking news

Callahan: The Patriots must learn from the Mac Jones era

6 things to watch in Patriots free agency

Source: Patriots re-signing WR Kendrick Bourne to 3-year deal

Source: Full details of Patriots TE Hunter Henry’s new three-year contract

The former college wide receiver has 172 career receptions for 1,283 yards with seven touchdowns in four seasons. He’s carried the ball 642 times for 2,643 yards with 22 touchdowns.

His best season came in 2021 when he carried the ball 258 times for 1,037 yards with seven touchdowns and added 42 catches for 294 yards with three touchdowns through the air. He finished seventh in the NFL with 11 rushing touchdowns as a rookie in 2020.

Gibson, a 2020 third-round pick out of Memphis, is expected to split running back duties with starter Rhamondre Stevenson. Both backs are adept at running the ball and catching out of the backfield.

Expect Gibson to take on a larger role in the passing game, per a source, where he’s a strong route-runner with dependable hands. He’s viewed by the team as fast, quick and a serviceable inside runner.

The Patriots did not have a designated passing back since James White retired before the 2022 season.

Gibson joins Stevenson, Kevin Harris and JaMycal Hasty on the Patriots’ current roster. The Patriots also signed Ke’Shawn Vaughn, another 2020 third-round pick, to a future contract.

Ezekiel Elliott, who split time with Stevenson last season, is a free agent.