Leon Washington‘s career with the Patriots didn’t work out as planned, but he’s already found a new home.
Washington, 31, signed the Tennessee Titans on Tuesday, the team announced, less than a week after the Patriots released the running back/kick returner. He is expected to immediately assume primary kick returning duties for the Titans.
Washington originally signed with the Patriots during the offseason, but injuries limited him to just two games with the team this season. He had one rush for 1 yard on offense and returned just one kick for 19 yards during his brief stint in New England.
The Titans will be Washington’s fourth team in eight NFL seasons. He played four seasons with the Jets after being drafted in the fourth round in 2006 before joining the Seahawks for three seasons. He has primarily been known as a kick-return specialist during his career, although he was featured as a dual-threat running back at times during his stays in New York and Seattle.
Washington holds the NFL record for kick return touchdowns, along with the Jets’ Josh Cribbs, with eight in his career. In two different seasons (2007 and 2010), Washington returned three kickoffs for touchdowns. He should help boost the Titans’ kick return game, as they currently rank 19th in the NFL with 22.8 yards per return.
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