For a period of time, Arian Foster was one of the most consistent running backs in football with the Houston Texans. Taking a perfect fit in Houston and rattling off three straight years with 1,000 plus yards and double-digit touchdowns as Foster was a key part of the Texans best ever era. Carrying the offense to two straight playoff appearances in 2011 and 2012 with wins in both trips to the postseason.
After those career heights, the injury regression started to hit Foster during his final three seasons with the Texans. Two straight years of missed playing time in 2013 and 2014 starting to signal a wind down for Foster before an Achilles’ injury four games into 2015 officially ended Foster’s career in Houston. Leading to a quiet free agency market as many teams balked at taking a risk on Foster after the Achilles’ tear despite a 1,246-yard season in 2014 in just 13 games as the feeling around Foster was that the veteran running back’s best years were behind him.
The Miami Dolphins stepped up to make a move to sign Foster and see what he has left in the tank after an Achilles’ injury that could spell the end of Foster’s explosiveness. Signing Foster to a one year, prove it contract that will give Foster the opportunity to potentially earn one more big contract if he can prove the doubters wrong in 2016.
For now, Foster is confident that he is back. Telling reporters this week that “it’s back” in regards to the explosiveness he had before he tore his Achilles’ 10 months ago and saw his career with the Texans end in the blink of an eye at the same time.
“It’s back,” Foster said Wednesday per the Palm Beach Post. “We’re good.”
It is hard to have much faith in Foster as Achilles’ injuries are usually a death knell for NFL running backs who have the miles that Foster has racked up during his seven seasons in Houston. Everyone saw how Kobe Bryant looked like a different player in the NBA after his Achilles’ injury so to expect Foster to turn back the clock less than a year after suffering a devastating injury may be asking too much out of a player who will just be hoping to earn another contract in the NFL. Even if Foster is telling the media that he feels good, until he proves it on the field it is going to be difficult to view him as an impact player.
Foster will get his first preseason appearance tonight against the Dallas Cowboys as the Dolphins take the field for their second preseason game. A game in which Foster will be the central focus as the Dolphins and the rest of the NFL will be paying attention to see if any signs of the skillset that Foster had with the Texans is still there after his injury.
With Lamar Miller leaving the Dolphins this offseason, Foster will be competing with two young horses in Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake for carries this season. Something that guarantees the Dolphins will be interested in keeping Foster on the 53 man roster as head coach Adam Gase will want a veteran presence as part of an unproven running back group. That is the only guarantee as Foster will have to earn his touches as well as any new contract as he has a one season window to extend his NFL career.
Although Father Time is currently in the lead over Foster, there is no denying his talent as a player who has been a lock for 1,000 yard seasons while healthy. If Foster can turn back the clock, the Dolphins could have a cheap rental this season, but as we wait for Foster’s first game action there should be caution as it is more likely that Foster has lost a step than it is likely that he hits the ground running with the Dolphins right away.
