Five things to know about new running back Dion Lewis:
1. Originally a fifth-round selection by the Eagles in 2011, Lewis has played in 86 regular-season games with 27 starts for Philadelphia (2011-12), New England (2015-17) and Tennessee (2018-19). His career numbers include 538 rushes for 2,310 yards and 11 touchdowns, and 172 receptions for 1,281 yards and seven scores. He also has averaged 22.9 yards on 57 career kickoff returns, including a 103-yard touchdown with the Patriots in 2017, the last time he was used as a returner. Giants coach Joe Judge was the special teams coordinator during Lewis' time in New England.
2. The 5-foot-8, 195-pounder has also played in nine postseason games with five starts, including two Super Bowls (Patriots were 1-1 in those games). He was also part of Tennessee's run to the AFC Championship Game this past season.
3. In 2019, Lewis played in all 16 regular-season games for the third consecutive season and three postseason games for the Titans as a backup to Derrick Henry, who led the NFL with 1,540 rushing yards. Lewis finished second on the team with 54 carries for 209 yards and added 25 catches for 164 yards and one touchdown. In his first season with the Titans in 2018, Lewis finished second on the team with 517 rushing yards and a touchdown. He also ranked second on the squad with a career-high 59 receptions and third on the team with a career-best 400 receiving yards.
In 2017, Lewis led the Patriots with 896 rushing yards on 180 carries with six touchdowns. In the last eight games of the campaign, he led the NFL with 625 rushing yards. Compared to all running backs with 150 or more rushing attempts, his per-carry average of 4.98 yards led the NFL.
He was acquired by the Browns in a trade with the Eagles in exchange for linebacker Emmanuel Acho on April 11, 2013. Lewis suffered a leg injury in the preseason and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
In 2014, he spent training camp with the Cleveland Browns, but was released prior to the start of the regular season. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts in September and spent one week on the active roster before being released.
4. Lewis played two seasons at Pittsburgh (2009-10), where he finished fourth on the school's all-time rushing list with 2,860 yards. As a freshman (2009), he became the first player since Michael Vick (Virginia Tech, 1999) to earn Big East Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season after rushing 325 times for 1,799 yards (5.5 avg.) and 18 total touchdowns. He broke Tony Dorsett's freshman rushing record (1,686 yards in 1973) and tied his freshman record with ten 100-yard rushing games. Lewis also broke Craig Heyward's record at Pittsburgh for rushes in a single game with 47 against University of Cincinnati in the Big East Championship game, totaling 194 yards, three touchdowns, as well as five catches for 34 yards.
5. Lewis attended Albany High School and Albany Academy in Albany, N.Y. before transferring to Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J. He was named the New Jersey Prep Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 after rushing 88 times for 1,243 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior at Blair Academy and added two punt return touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. He helped lead Blair Academy to a 17-1 record in his final two seasons, including two Mid-Atlantic Prep League Championships and a New Jersey Prep state title. He was also a three-year letterman in track & field, competing in sprints (11.09 seconds in 100m and 23.06 seconds in 200m), long jump (20'2") and relays (44.29 seconds in 4x100).
View photos of running back Dion Lewis.
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