Jordan

FOXBORO — The Patriots added some depth to their already-talented running backs group yesterday, signing recently released Lamont Jordan.

The 29-year-old seven-year veteran was cut by the Raiders on Friday.

The NFL Network reported that Jordan received a one-year deal from the Pats and also considered signing with New Orleans.

Agreeing to terms with New England ends a strange odyssey for the former second-round draft pick, though there seems to be no other type of situation when it comes to Oakland. He racked up 424 yards through the first four games last season, but injured his back in the fourth game. Jordan started the next three games but was benched in favor of Justin Fargas after averaging just 2.1 yards on 87 total carries.

After being placed on the day-of-game inactive list in November, Jordan asked for his outright release, but Oakland kept him. The Raiders drafted Arkansas back Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick in April and signed him to a reported six-year, $60-million deal with $26 million guaranteed, and it became clear that the end was near for Jordan and the Raiders.

The team locked Jordan out of mini-camp last month and then asked him to stay away from training camp, but league rules prohibit a team from doing so, leaving the Raiders with the options of letting him report, trading him or cutting him. There were no trade partners willing to take on the $9.7 million in combined money Jordan was due in 2008 and ’09, the last two years of his deal with Oakland, so when he showed up at camp Friday, the team released him.

The Jets originally drafted Jordan 49th overall in 2001, but he spent his four seasons with the team as Curtis Martin’s backup and signed a free-agent deal with Oakland in 2005.

At 5-foot-10 and listed at 230 pounds, Jordan is bulkier than the Pats’ other running backs, Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk. Jordan is a strong pass-catcher, with 158 receptions in his career, 70 in his first season with Oakland.

Jordan was on the field with his new teammates for New England’s afternoon practice yesterday; he spent some time chatting with former Raider mate Randy Moss and also spoke for a while with running backs coach Ivan Fears.

To make room for Jordan on the 80-man roster, the Patriots released first-year receiver Robert Ortiz.

Seymour back on field

After missing the previous two practices, on Thursday evening and Friday, Richard Seymour was back on the field yesterday.

The defensive lineman had declared himself fully fit after the opening session Thursday, so his absences were a bit of a head-scratcher. When one reporter told Seymour that there was concern for him, Seymour said, “Don’t be worried about me.”

“It was a coaches’ and trainers’ decision. The first week, they just wanted me to kind of ease into it,” he continued. “We just want to be smart about it and go from there. There’s a long way to go for all of us.”

Mruczkowski to retire

Just before the morning practice got under way yesterday, the Patriots announced that G/C Gene Mruczkowski had decided to retire.

Mruczkowski first joined the Patriots as an undrafted rookie in 2003 and spent much of his time as a reserve, though he did play in the team’s Super Bowl XXXIX victory over Philadelphia. In all, he played 18 games with the Pats and 15 with the Dolphins, who he spent last season with.

“Gene has worked hard and is a solid guy,” Belichick said. “Everybody has to make that decision at some point. We all respect the decision and we respect Gene.”

To fill Mruczkowski’s spot on the roster, the team re-signed OL Lavdrim Bauta, who has already been signed and cut once this week.

Two Pats practices

New England held two practices on the fields behind Gillette Stadium yesterday. The first was in full pads, but the second was in just shirts and shorts (no jerseys) as it was a walkthrough. All 11 players on the unable-to-perform list were present.

Some other notes from the practices:

•It wasn’t the best morning for Chad Jackson. The receiver dropped one punt and was then stripped of another, earning him a talking-to from special-teams coach Brad Seeley; later, in 11-on-11 work, he dropped a long ball from Tom Brady on an otherwise successful trick play.

•In 11-on-11 work, third-year man Wesley Britt worked at right tackle and Billy Yates took the reps at right guard.

•Among the players who took part in a punt-blocking drill, Heath Evans was the star pupil, with Seeley using him as an example of how it should be done. Rookie Shawn Crable was admonished for taking too indirect a path to punter Chris Hansen the first time, but seemed to do better on his next try.

Extra points

Safety Tank Williams continues to take snaps at inside linebacker with the first-team defense. … Rookie corner Jonathan Wilhite picked off Matt Cassel during 11-on-11 work. … The offensive emphasis in the morning seemed to be on the run game. … New England will hold two sessions again today, with the first starting at 8:45 a.m. and the second at 5:30 p.m. They are open to the public. Check patriots.com, or call (508) 549-0001 for changes to the schedule.

smanza@projo.com