All the reports coming from Miami Dolphins training camp have been absolutely tremendous surrounding veteran running back Arian Foster.
First-year Dolphins head coach Adam Gase indicated earlier on Monday that Foster “annihilated” his conditioning test. That was enough for the team to activate him from the physically unable to perform list (more on that here).
Not only that, it appears that Foster is now entrenched in as the team’s starting running back after being signed just a couple short weeks ago.
“He (Foster) is going to be working with the ones the whole training camp,” Gase said, via the Miami Herald. “His resume speaks for itself. I don’t think there’s any question why we brought him in here. He’s playing this year. Whether he’s the guy that will be the first snap of the game, time will tell. He is going to be rolling with the ones.”
This comes after second-year running back Jay Ajayi missed Monday’s practice with a bone bruise in his knee. The Boise State product fell to the fifth round of last year’s draft due to widespread concern over his ability to hold up long-term in the NFL.
With Ajayi sidelined, it appears that Foster is making the most of his opportunity in South Beach.
The 29-year-old four-time Pro Bowler was released by the Houston Texans during the spring after yet another injury-plagued season. Foster played in just four games in 2015 after suffering a torn Achilles. Overall, he missed nearly half of Houston’s 48 games in his final three seasons with the team.
When healthy, Foster has proven himself to be among the most-productive running backs in recent history. He’s averaging 115 total yards per game during his seven-year career. It’s now all about Foster showing that he can remain healthy for the Dolphins this season.