The New England Patriots are 8-0, but they have a running back issue, which could be solved by signing free agent Jonas Gray.

According to multiple NFL reports, Gray could very well be a free agent target for the team. 

The Patriots currently rank 26th overall in the NFL in rushing yards as a team. Things won't get much easier in coming days with Dion Lewis officially out for the season after suffering a torn ACL against the Washington Redskins in Week 9. The trade deadline has come and gone, so options are limited for Bill Belichick.

The Miami Dolphins recently released Gray from their roster. He played for the Patriots last season, eventually becoming the team's leading rusher. He led the Patriots with 412 rushing yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry. All five of his career rushing touchdowns came with the Patriots.

While Gray hasn't been very impressive with the Dolphins this season, he hasn't been terrible. He hasn't started a single game all year, and he has just 122 yards on the ground so far. Despite all this, he is still averaging a modest 3.9 yards per carry on a mediocre Dolphins team.

Gray knows and fits with the Patriots system. With Lewis sidelined for the rest of the season, it may be time for the Patriots to consider re-signing Gray. 

However, there could be an issue in the relationship between Gray and Belichick. Belichick benched the running back last year after he overslept and was late to a practice.

The other player to keep in mind is LeGarrette Blount. He is now the No. 1 starter with Lewis out, and he's done a great job. Blount is a power back who can wear opponents down with bone crushing hits. He gets in the end zone, runs for positive yardage between the tackles, and he fits the Patriots system quite well. Still, Blount is not a very consistent back, and he's not very fast around the outside. Where Blount falters, Gray excels. 

Blount played a big role in last year's Super Bowl run after the Patriots re-signed him in free agency. He was cut from the Pittsburgh Steelers in November, around the same time that Gray was cut from the Dolphins this season. Could last year's Blount be this year's Gray? The similarities are all there.

Meanwhile, Brandon Bolden has quickness, and there's a good chance you will see him get an increased workload going forward.

The Patriots have a solid offense, but it's not very balanced. They've failed to hit the 100-yard rushing mark in four of their eight games so far, leaving them with the low overall rushing ranking. The team's schedule gets pretty difficult in the second half of the year, and establishing a run game is crucial. Only time will tell if they re-sign Gray.

 Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1