Arian Foster Signs One-Year Deal With Dolphins, Coming Off Ruptured Achilles

Running back Arian Foster signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins on Monday, stating he is starting “a new chapter of my life.”

Arian Foster Signs One-Year Deal With Dolphins, Coming Off Ruptured Achilles

The deal is worth $1.5 million and includes incentives that could bring its total value to a maximum of $3.5 million, a league source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 

Foster’s agent, Mike McCartney, announced the news Monday afternoon when he tweeted congratulations to the former Houston Texans star.

Foster, a four-time Pro Bowler who will turn 30 next month, explained why he joined the Dolphins in a conference call later in the day.

“They’re a young team, a hungry team,” the running back said after the Dolphins officially announced the signing. “[They have] a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. I think they have the right head coach and the right people in the front office. They’re all committed to winning there.”

Foster played in only four games last season, hampered by two major injuries. He suffered a torn groin in training camp that caused him to miss three games. He returned for four games, but then suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in the last five minutes of the 44-26 loss against the Dolphins on Oct. 25. The Texans released Foster in March after the latter season-ending injury.

Since becoming Houston’s starter in 2010, Foster has suffered a torn meniscus, several hamstring injuries, a knee injury, a back injury that required surgery, a minor groin injury, and the two aforementioned injuries. In that time, Foster has carried the ball an average of 20 times per game, the highest average in the NFL.

He rushed for a franchise-record 6,472 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and 54 touchdowns in seven seasons with the Texans, with whom he signed as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He spent most of that season on the practice squad, being elevated to the practice roster in November.

Foster visited the Dolphins in March what was termed a medical visit. He stated that’s when he decided to join the team.

“After my visit in March with Miami I kind of already made my mind up that was where I wanted to be,” he said.

The running back had a follow-up visit Monday and his health was deemed good enough to convince Miami that he’s physically fit.

Foster said he’ll be healthy enough to participate in training camp next week beginning with the July 29th opening practice. Foster added he wasn’t told he would be the starter.

“I don’t have any expectations,” he said.

Although the RB was set to earn $6.5 million this season and carry an $8.9 million salary cap hit, Texans general manager Rick Smith insisted at the NFL scouting combine in March that Houston would not release Foster for financial reasons.

“As it relates to all the free agent conversations, I’m never going to tell you one way or the other what we’re doing,” Smith said, “but I will tell you this: His salary is not a reason why we would cut Arian.”

Foster’s health and availability were more important to the team. Lamar Miller, Foster’s replacement in Houston, has only missed one game in the last three seasons.

Foster joins a young group of running backs in Miami that includes Jay Ajayi, Damien Williams and rookie Kenyan Drake. 

Ajayi, the 2015 fifth-round pick from Boise State, has been the starter throughout the offseason program.

Foster said he wasn’t bitter about his release from Houston. “Nothing but love on this end,” he said in an Instagram post.

“There’s nothing I have to prove and I’m sure Lamar feels the same way,” Foster finally said.

PHOTO: JACKSONVILLE, FL – OCTOBER 18: Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans rushes for yardage during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on October 18, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)