FOXBORO -- The New England Patriots announced Wednesday afternoon through their Twitter account that they've agreed to terms with running back Kevin Faulk.

He is expected to sign his one-year contract on Thursday.

Faulk, who has played with the Patriots since 1999, averaged 5.4 yards per carry last season. He rushed for 335 yards on 62 carries while tying for fourth on the team with 37 receptions.

The all-purpose back is the fourth player from last year's team to reach an agreement with the Patriots in the past week, joining Vince Wilfork, Tully Banta-Cain, and Leigh Bodden. Faulk is just one of nine players who have an agreement with the team that played on a championship Patriots team in the past.

While considered to be mainly a third-down back, the 33-year-old Faulk brings a lot of leadership and commands the respect of his peers in the locker room. The Patriots now have five running backs on their roster (Faulk, Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, Laurence Maroney and BenJarvus Green-Ellis) so they won't be forced to select a running back in the upcoming draft.