The Patriots bolstered their backfield corps Tuesday, signing unrestricted free agent running back Rex Burkhead a day after he visited Foxborough.
The 5-foot-10-inch, 214-pounder is a four-year veteran and seems to fit the New England profile. The former Bengal has versatility to play all four downs and is coming off a career year in which he carried 74 times for 344 yards. He also had 17 receptions.
He rushed for a career-high 119 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the 2016 season finale against the Ravens.
Burkhead, 26, is an excellent special teams player and led the Bengals in special teams tackles last season and was second in 2015.
The Patriots have Dion Lewis and James White under contract for 2017, though they are both in the final year of their deals. LeGarrette Blount and Brandon Bolden, both of whom became free agents last week, remain unsigned.
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com