The Denver Broncos didn’t wait long to find help in the backfield after losing Devontae Booker for 6-8 weeks with a broken arm. News of Booker’s injury broke Wednesday, and he will have surgery on Friday. On Thursday, the first day of training camp, the team signed former Patriots running back Stevan Ridley.
Former #Patriots & #Jets RB Stevan Ridley is signing with the #Broncos, source said. He helps with depth given Devontae Booker's injury.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 27, 2017
Ridley made a name for himself with the Patriots from 2011 until 2014, racking up 2,817 rushing yards over that time. In 2012, his best season, he totaled 1,263 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. His final season with the Patriots was cut short by a season-ending ACL and MCL tear in Week 6, although he did win a Super Bowl ring that year.
Since that injury, he has rushed for only 97 NFL yards. After leaving New England, Ridley played with the Jets in 2015. He appeared in nine games, starting one, that season, but logged just 90 yards on 36 carries. He spent training camp with the Lions in 2016 before being released. The Colts picked him up in late August 2016 and released him in early September, just weeks later. He spent a month with the Falcons from late October to late November 2016, playing in one game and generating seven yards on three carries.
In three career games against the Broncos, Ridley was 3-0 with 230 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing, one passing). In the playoffs, his Patriots teams were 1-1 against Denver.
The 28-year-old was an All-SEC rusher for LSU and drafted in the third round by New England in 2011.
Guard Chris Mueller was waived to make room for Ridley.
