LeGarrette Blount out for the year with a hip injury, according to report

New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount will reportedly miss the rest of the 2015 season with a hip injury sustained against the Texans. He was sidelined during the first half of Sunday’s game, and was seen around the facility on crutches Tuesday.

The veteran running back had 703 rushing yards this season with six touchdowns on 165 carries. He was the starter in each of the last five games, and will be a big void for the team to try and fill. Blount was the power back among the rushing rotation, and no other back on roster has the same ground and pound ability.

With Blount out, the team now has only two healthy running backs on the depth chart, James White and Brandon Bolden. The team signed Montee Ball to the practice squad on Tuesday, where he joins running back Trey Johnson; one of these players -- or another free agent -- will need to be added to active roster to give the team both a rushing threat and special teams help.

The Patriots are no stranger to offensive injuries, having lost Dion Lewis, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Rob Gronkowski and Josh Kline to injuries of varying severity. Lewis opened as the Patriots’ starting running back, then was lost for the season. The team is 11-2 on the season despite losing a starter six weeks in a row, and has already clinched its division.