Hill has made a good impression with his work during the Patriots' voluntary offseason program, ESPN's Mike Reiss reports.

EDGE Analysis

When Hill joined the Patriots as a free agent last month, his path to carries was unclear, though his nose for the red zone while with the Bengals in 2015 and 2016 offered hope that the 25-year-old could rebound from an injury-shortened 2017 campaign. The Patriots' first-round selection of running back Sony Michel on Thursday further clouds Hill's potential role with the team and despite the good impression he's made, the 2014 second-rounder seems likely to compete with Gillislee and Brandon Bolden for a depth spot behind roster locks Michel, Rex Burkhead and James White.

Hill likely will have to compete for a roster spot, as his one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Patriots only includes $150,000 guaranteed (in the form of a signing bonus), Ben Volin of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hill's 2017 campaign ended in November when he opted to have ankle surgery, finishing with 37 carries for 116 yards (3.1 average) without any touchdowns in seven games. He had either 222 or 223 carries and at least nine touchdowns in each of his first three seasons in Cincinnati, but had managed just 3.6 yards per carry in 2015 and 3.8 in 2016, after rumbling for 5.2 (1,124 rushing yards) as a rookie second-round pick in 2014. Now four years removed from that big season, Hill will need to make a strong impression in training camp to win a spot on the final roster. He'll likely be competing with Mike Gillislee for a power back role, with the loser potentially becoming a casualty before Week 1. Rex Burkhead and James White appear locked into roster spots, and Brandon Bolden always seems to stick around thanks to his value on special teams. Hill's ankle should be healthy at some point this offseason, if it isn't already.

The Patriots signed Hill (ankle) to a contract Friday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hill surprised his previous employer, the Bengals, when he underwent season-ending ankle surgery in early November. The impetus was his upcoming status as a free agent, but upon landing in New England, he joins another backfield populated by Rex Burkhead, James White and Mike Gillislee. Hill is a fair bet to be involved on a weekly basis, but consistency may be difficult to attain due to the situation.

Hill (ankle) is visiting the Patriots on Friday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

This is Hill's first reported visit in free agency, with his downward career arc likely limiting interest around the league. He fell shy of four yards per carry each of the past three seasons, but he at least stayed healthy and scored a plethora of short touchdowns in 2015 and 2016, whereas last season he played seven games (zero TDs) before landing on injured reserve with an ankle injury. The 25-year-old likely will need to reprove himself wherever he ends up signing, be it in New England or elsewhere. The Patriots are looking for help in a backfield that lost Dion Lewis but retained Rex Burkhead, along with James White and Mike Gillislee. The Pats may envision Hill and Gillislee competing for the power role in their offense.

Hill (ankle) doesn't expect to be a Bengal for the 2018 season, Jim Owczarski of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "Been one hell of a ride Cincinnati on to the next chapter," Hill posted on his personal Twitter page.

EDGE Analysis

Hill made his last appearance of the campaign Week 8, eventually opting for season-ending ankle surgery with his impending free agency in mind. The writing seemed to be on the wall when the Bengals selected Joe Mixon in the second round of the 2017 draft, and Hill's workload didn't exceed eight touches in any of his seven appearances. Once Hill hits the open market in March, the 25-year-old will be able to point to certain bullet points on his resume. As a rookie in 2014, he posted a career-best 1,124 rushing yards, reeling them off at 5.1 YPC. Furthermore, he combined for 30 touchdowns in his first three seasons before the abbreviated one in 2017.

Jim Owczarski and Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer relay that Hill (ankle) seems unlikely to return to the Bengals.

EDGE Analysis

Hill, who is bouncing back from season-ending ankle surgery, previously indicated that he "should be back to (himself) "in January, noting that he elected to address his ankle woes back in November in order to put himself in the best possible position heading into free agency. The Enquirer report projects the possibility of Hill returning to the Bengals at one percent. That sounds reasonable, given that the team drafted Joe Mixon last April and still has Giovani Bernard under contract through 2019.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said he was surprised when he learned that Hill was opting for season-ending surgery on his injured ankle, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Cincinnati Enquirerreports.

EDGE Analysis

The Bengals for some reason thought Hill would try to play through the injury and put off surgery until the offseason -- an approach that wouldn't make much sense for an impending free agent with a very limited role. This presumably seals Hill's fate in Cincinnati, where the Bengals will happily move forward with Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard, likely hoping that offensive line renovations can get the running game back on track next offseason. Hill hasn't done much of note besides scoring goal-line touchdowns since his rookie season, but he should at least have time to get healthy before 2018 training camp, at which point he'll likely be competing for a role with a new team. It's hard to imagine any franchise would sign him with a clear-cut lead role in mind. Hill will finish out the 2017 campaign on injure reserve.

The Bengals have placed Hill (ankle) on the Reserve/Injured list, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hill's addition to the Reserve/Injured list means rookie Joe Mixon will presumably handle the bulk of the work in the Bengals' backfield for the remainder of the season. Giovani Bernard also figures to play a change-of-pace role for the team. Hill's 2017 season will end with 116 yards accumulated on 37 carries, but he failed to reach the end zone for the first time in his four year career.

Hill (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Titans, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hill's second straight game absence paves the way for Joe Mixon to continue to handle the bulk of the work in the Bengals' backfield Sunday, with Giovani Bernard also on hand to work in a change-of-pace role in Week 10.

Hill (ankle) wasn't present for Thursday's practice, Jay Morrison of the Dayton Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hill's ankle injury came out of nowhere to sideline him for the Week 9 loss to the Jaguars, but a Week 10 absence would be less surprising given that he has yet to see the field for either of the Bengals' first two practices. Look for the Bengals to issue formal word on Hill's status for Sunday's game against the Titans following their final practice of the week Friday. Regardless of Hill's health, rookie Joe Mixon looks poised to head the Bengals' backfield once again.