Commanders RB Antonio Gibson Signing with Patriots

The Washington Commanders appear to be moving on from several free agents, and one of them is signing with the New England Patriots.

The Washington Commanders have been busy at the start of the open negotiating period agreeing to deals with former Dallas Cowboys edge defender Dorance Armstrong and center Tyler Biadasz. 

While the Commanders were busy bringing in former Cowboys, one former member of their own team was busy joining the New England Patriots.

That report coming from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport who says former Washington running back Antonio Gibson is headed to the Patriots.

Former Washington Commanders running back Antonio Gibson (24) runs the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles / Brad Mills, USA Today

"Source: The #Patriots are signing former #Commanders RB Antonio Gibson," Rapoport put out on social media Monday afternoon.

Gibson will join a running back room in New England that is very crowded with starter Rhamondre Stevenson under contract for the next two seasons along with other players like JaMycal Hasty, Kevin Harris, and Ke'Shawn Vaughn.

The reports are that Gibson's deal is of the three-year variety with finances currently unknown. 

Gibson first entered the league as a third-round NFL Draft pick of the Commanders coming out of the Memphis Tigers' program where he was a receiver. 

As an immediate running back convert Gibson started 10 games in his rookie season and collected just over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in that first year as an NFL player. 

He put together another 1,000-yard season in 2021 while starting 14 of 16 games but also fumbled six times leading to Washington pursuing other running back options by drafting Brian Robinson Jr. in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

While Gibson never fully fell out of favor with the fans, and even the media seemed to feel his skillset showed more potential than the Commanders had gotten out of him, he lost his starting job to Robinson that same season and never regained it over the past two years.

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Last year Gibson played in 16 games and gained just 654 yards from scrimmage including 265 on the ground and 389 as a receiver.

New England will be looking to capitalize more on Gibson's abilities as a versatile player more than the Commanders did in four years.