Jay Ajayi is the leader for the Dolphins’ starting running back job, but he’s got several contenders on his tail. (Getty Images)
As the
Dolphins sort through their running backs in search of someone to replace Lamar Miller as their primary ball carrier, the reality is that player might not exist on this roster.
Every contender for the starting job has substantive question marks, and evaluating any of them is made more difficult by instability on the offensive line.
Second-year player
Jay Ajayi is in the lead, but has never carried the ball more than nine times in his nine-game career. Four-time Pro Bowler Arian Foster, who hit every running back’s dreaded birthday with No. 30 on Wednesday, went unsigned for four months as he worked back from a ruptured right Achilles tendon.
Isaiah Pead has been the most impressive back in the preseason, though he’s never had anything close to a meaningful role since entering the NFL four years ago, and third-round pick Kenyan Drake has been out with hamstring issues. Drake won’t play in Thursday in Orlando, where the Dolphins host the Falcons for their third game of the preseason.
Miami coach Adam Gase hopes to play his starters into the third quarter against Atlanta, which would give Ajayi a major opportunity to solidify his standing.
