Cardinals to workout Jay Ajayi and Spencer Ware

The Arizona Cardinals are scheduled to workout free agent running backs Jay Ajayi and Spencer Ware, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Ajayi, 26, is a former fifth-round draft pick out of Boise State. He rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns with the Eagles last season prior to suffering a torn ACL in week five. His best season in NFL was in 2016 with the Dolphins when he had 260 carries for 1,272 yards and eight touchdowns, along with 151 receiving yards. Despite the injuries, when healthy, he is one of the better running backs in the NFL.

In his five-year career, he has a total of 562 carries, 2,516 rushing yards, and 13 touchdowns. He also made 63 receptions for 419 yards and a touchdown during that time.

Ware, 27, was a 2013 sixth-round pick out of LSU who has also dealt with a share of injuries in his six-year career. He was the Chiefs’ starting running back before injuries derailed those plans. Last season, he had 246 rushing yards, 224 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. He signed with the Colts this offseason to be Marlon Mack’s backup, but was released with an injury settlement.

This Cardinals team needs depth at the position with David Johnson dealing with a left ankle injury and D.J. Foster with a hamstring injury. Chase Edmonds is coming off a career-game, setting career-highs in carries (27), rushing yards (126), and touchdowns (3).

Edmonds will be the starter moving forward, if Johnson’s injury persists. To get a player like Ajayi would give the Cardinals a downhill power running back where Ware would be the better receiver out of the two.

I expect one of them to be added some time this week and they will need to be acclimated to the playbook as the Cardinals face a huge test next week against the New Orleans Saints.