MIAMI — Four-time Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster took a big step Monday in his comeback from a torn Achilles tendon.
He found a team.
Foster signed a $1.5 million, one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins, and said he’s fully healthy.
"I still feel like I’m a Pro Bowl-calibre player, and I intend to show it," Foster said.
Foster, who spent the past seven years with the Houston Texans, was hurt in Game 7 last year at Miami. He paid a free agent visit to the Dolphins in March and accepted an offer after working out for them Monday.
Miami was looking to add depth at running back following the loss of Lamar Miller to the Texans in free agency.
"After my visit with Miami, I kind of made my mind up that that was where I wanted to be," Foster said. "I see a lot of promise in this team and feel like I add value."
Jay Ajayi is expected to start after rushing for 187 yards as a rookie last year. Foster will likely compete for a backup role with third-round pick Kenyan Drake and veterans Daniel Thomas and Damien Williams.
Injuries have limited Foster to 25 games in the past three years, and he played in just four games last season, averaging 2.6 yards per carry. He holds the Texans’ franchise record with 6,472 yards rushing, but he’ll turn 30 next month, and acknowledged the challenge of shopping his services in free agency.
"There was light interest and heavy interest, spotty, you know, here and there," he said. "But this league knows that when I’m on the field, I’m one of the most productive doing it."
Foster’s most recent Pro Bowl season was 2014, when he rushed for 1,246 yards and caught passes for 327 in 13 games. He has 2,268 yards in career receptions, and new Miami coach Adam Gase likes to get backs involved in the passing game.
"Adam really knows how to use running backs out of the backfield, which I think is my best quality — route-running and catching the ball," Foster said.
Miami begins training camp July 29.
