Jordan Howard is due to return for the Eagles’ Week 17 game. As a result, the NFC East leaders are waiving Jay Ajayi, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).
Ajayi caught on with his former team recently, doing so because of Howard’s late-season injury issues. Out of football since his rookie contract expired after the 2018 season, Ajayi was used sparingly behind Miles Sanders. The fifth-year veteran gained 30 yards on 10 carries in his latest Eagles stint.
A torn ACL suffered midway through last season sidetracked Ajayi’s career. Instead of a free agency payday, the former Dolphins draft pick-turned-Eagles Super Bowl cog spent months rehabbing his knee. The 26-year-old back would seemingly be on track to attract interest in 2020, being healthier than he was this year. But Ajayi’s stock certainly is not where it was before the injury.
Howard missed Philadelphia’s past six games with a shoulder stinger, but the contract-year back will stand to help the Eagles clinch their third straight playoff berth. The offseason acquisition has gained 528 yards on 119 totes, bouncing back after a down 2018 season with the Bears. The Eagles can clinch the NFC East title with a road win over the Giants on Sunday.
“Hello Jay, It’s John Schneider”
I came here to say the same thing. If he doesn’t end up with the Seahawks, I’ll be shocked.
He’s a beast when healthy, just not sure he’ll ever get back to 100%.
This is why players, particularly running backs, should take the money while they can. Their shelf life is incredibly short.
I So 525 yards is “bouncing back after a down 2018 season” of only 935 yards?
He had less than half the carries…
3.7ypr/9tds in 16gms last year
4.4ypr/7tds in 9gms this year.
58.4 yards/game last season to 58.3 this season.