Kevin Faulk has become a workhorse for New England and leads the team in rushing.

FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) – Kevin Faulk spent most of his career as a third-down back. Now he’s staying on the field longer and producing more.

In his fifth season with the New England Patriots, Faulk has emerged as a workhorse who leads the team in rushing, is third in receptions and loves the chance to do it all.

“It really didn’t upset me” to play primarily on third downs, Faulk said Monday. “It really motivated me to go out there and work harder and try to be an every-down back.”

An injury to Antowain Smith gave him that opportunity for the last three games and Faulk responded with 221 yards rushing and 12 receptions as the Patriots won all three.

His best performance came in the Patriots 9-3 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday when he had career highs of 23 carries for 96 yards and caught six passes for 58 yards.

“Kevin ran hard,” coach Bill Belichick said. “There were a lot of plays where Cleveland’s line slanted and he was able to cut the ball back, and I thought he did a real good job of reading the blockers.”

Faulk has shown a knack for running inside and his size – 5-feet-8 and 202 pounds – actually may help.

“I basically have to get behind the offensive line and hide a little bit and try to be patient,” he said. “Being patient is probably the key.”

He’s shown great patience in waiting to become the primary back after the Patriots drafted him in the second round in 1999 out of Louisiana State.

In his first season, he ran only 67 times and caught just 12 passes. The next year, he led the Patriots with 570 yards rushing and had 51 receptions. The past two years, he started only one game and ran just 93 times but totaled 67 catches.

This year, he’s already run 99 times for 397 yards, both more than he had in each of the last two years. And he has 23 catches midway through the season.

But he’s not sure how his body will handle the extra pounding.

“You never can tell,” Faulk said. “After a game, you’re obviously sore a little bit. Once Wednesday, Thursday, Friday come along you try to forget about it. You have another game.”

Faulk has given up his job as kickoff returner. No Patriot has gained more yards than him in that role.

And with Smith and Mike Cloud also having played well at running back, Faulk has been getting breathers.

“All three backs have been productive for us this year and I think that they’ll continue to be,” Belichick said. “How they are used from game to game or situationally could vary and I’m sure it will.”

On Oct. 5, Smith rushed for 80 yards and Cloud gained 73 in a 38-30 win over Tennessee. On Oct. 12, Faulk rushed for 87 yards in a 17-6 win over the New York Giants.

The Patriots won both and lead the AFC East with a 6-2 record.

“All three of us know that we are here for the same thing and that is to help the New England Patriots win,” Faulk said.

AP-ES-10-27-03 2014EST