Veteran tailback Arian Foster, an unrestricted free agent whose 2015 season with the Houston Texans ended in late October due to an Achilles injury he sustained at Dolphins’ stadium, will visit the Miami Dolphins for a second time Monday.
A source said Foster’s first meeting with the Dolphins, which took place in March, was largely medical. Monday’s meeting is a follow up to determine how far along in his rehab the four-time Pro Bowl talent is, and whether he’ll be ready for training camp.
More Top Picks Yamaha Yas 108
Foster, 29, is looking for an opportunity to start and according to ESPN, the seven-year veteran will also visit the Detroit Lions, another team searching for a veteran tailback, later this week.
The Dolphins are looking for a starting tailback this offseason after last year’s starter Lamar Miller signed a four-year, $26 million contract with the Texans in free agency.
The Dolphins have said that Jay Ajayi, a 2015 fifth-round pick who rushed for 187 yards and one touchdown on 49 carries last season, rookie Kenyan Drake, a 2016 third-round pick who spent his entire career at Alabama as a backup, and Damien Williams, a veteran entering his third year, can handle the tailback workload.
However, each of those young talents has a deficiency in their game that might prevent them from being an every down back. The Dolphins also haven’t had the opportunity to test out the running game during the offseason because organized team activities and minicamp work don’t feature pads. So the team is going into training camp next week without knowing if the rushing attack, which gained 1,496 yards and contributed 11 touchdowns last year, can be respectable this season.
That might be why Foster, who sustained his season-ending injury in a 44-26 loss to the Dolphins, could be a viable alternative if he is healthy.
Foster rushed for 6,472 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and 54 touchdowns in seven seasons with Houston. However, the oft-injured tailback has only played in all 16 games twice in his career. And three times he’s played eight or fewer games, including last season when he played in just four games.
But Foster is a proven talent who has rushed for 1,616 yards (2010), 1,224 yards (2011) and 1,424 yards (2012). In 2014, Foster rushed for 1,246 yards and scored eight rushing touchdowns in 13 games. He’s also an effective weapon in the passing game having caught 249 passes for 2,268 yards and 14 receiving touchdowns.
The Dolphins have an available roster spot, and plenty of cap room – nearly $17 million available – to get a deal done. But it is unlikely that Miami will sign Foster to a substantial contract based on his age, injury history, and the level of competition for his services.