The Philadelphia Eagles boosted their running game by acquiring running back Jay Ajayi from the Miami Dolphins for a 2018 fourth-round pick, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Eagles, who currently lead the NFC with a 7-1 mark, rank fifth in the league in terms of rushing with 129.2 yards per game. Ajayi’s arrival will further solidify their running game. A fifth-round pick by Miami in the 2015 NFL Draft, the 24-year-old Ajayi played seven games for the Dolphins this season, rushing 138 times for 465 yards.
Last season, Ajayi made it to the Pro Bowl after carrying the ball 260 times for 1,272 yards and eight touchdowns. In his two-plus years in Miami, Ajayi carried the ball 447 times for 1,924 yards and nine touchdowns. On his Twitter account, Ajayi thanked Miami and Dolphins fans for the relationship and memories.
With Ajayi’s arrival, the Eagles can utilize veteran running back LeGarrette Blount in short-yardage situations while they will rely on Wendell Smallwood’s pass-catching capacity. Despite the presence of Ajayi, Eagles exec Howie Roseman clarified that Blount will remain as the team’s starting rusher.
With Ajayi gone, the Dolphins (4-3) will rely on Damien Williams and Kenyan Drake as their leading rushers.
Steelers keep wide receiver
According to Rapoport, the Pittsburgh Steelers have no plans of trading disgruntled wide receiver Martavis Bryant, who just returned from a year-long suspension this season. In the past several weeks, Bryant expressed his displeasure on social media and to reporters, instead of talking about it with the coaching staff. Fed up by Bryant’s moves, coach Mike Tomlin made him inactive for their win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday (Oct. 29). In that win, rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster stepped up in Bryant’s place, catching seven passes for 193 yards and a touchdown. Bryant, for his part, only has 18 catches for 234 yards and a touchdown this season.
Seahawks acquire veteran tackle
The Seattle Seahawks acquired veteran tackle Duane Brown from the Houston Texans for cornerback Jeremy Lane, a second-round pick in 2019 and a 2018 fifth-round pick. The Seahawks made the trade after losing George Fant to a torn ACL in mid-August. Brown, for his part, recently returned from a holdout and will have a chance for a fresh start with the Seahawks. A first-round pick by Houston in 2008, Brown played 10 years and 133 games with the Texans. According to Brady Henderson of ESPN, Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson agreed to rework his deal to create cap space for Brown. A source told ESPN that Wilson converted $6.26 million of his 2017 base salary into a signing bonus, freeing up $4.17 million in cap space for Brown’s remaining salary from the Texans.