Patriots' LeGarrette Blount: Didn't participate in spring practices

Blount (hip) didn't participate in any of the Patriots' spring practices, ESPN.com reports.

Analysis:

Blount's status will thus be worth monitoring as training camp approaches, but in the absence of any setbacks with his hip, we'd expect him to move toward the end of reclaiming the Patriots' "big back" role this coming season. Barring any additional moves by the team to address the running back position, Blount's primary competition for the role should come from Joey Iosefa and Tyler Gaffney. Meanwhile, Donald Brown, James White, Brandon Bolden and undrafted rookie D.J. Foster figure to jostle for slotting on the team's depth chart, with the only secure spot on that front belonging to Dion Lewis, who will serve as the team's top pass-catching back, provided he fully recovers from the knee injury that ended his 2015 season early.