Tag: Kenyan Drake

Former Alabama RB Kenyan Drake signs with Indianapolis Colts

After spending quite some time as a free agent, Kenyan Drake is back on a squad just in time for the 2023 season.

The Indianapolis Colts worked out running back Kenyan Drake on Thursday. The former Alabama running back was signed just a day by the Colts on Friday.

Drake began his professional career with the Miami Dolphins in 2016 after being selected in the third round of the NFL draft by the franchise.

In four seasons with the Dolphins organization, Drake had 333 carries for 1,532 yards and nine touchdowns. Drake’s most memorable moment as a Dolphin came in 2018 when he was able to help the Dolphins defeat the Patriots. Drake pulled off a miraculous 69-yard touchdown reception on a hook-and-ladder that will forever be known as the ‘Miami Miracle.’

In 2019, Drake was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for a conditional sixth-round pick. Through two seasons with the franchise, Drake had 362 carries for 1,598 yards and 18 touchdowns.

After the conclusion of the 2020 season, Drake signed a two-year deal worth $14.5-million dollars to play for the Las Vegas Raiders. During the first year of his contract, Drake suffered a broken ankle causing him to miss the remainder of the season. Soon after, he was released.

In 2022, Drake was signed by the Baltimore Ravens. He served as the team’s starting running back after a series of injuries occurred in the Ravens’ running back room. He finished the season with 63 carries for 254 yards and two touchdowns.

Drake will spend the ninth season of his NFL career with the Colts. Interestingly enough, he could play a large role in the backfield. Colts running back Jonathan Taylor recently requested a trade and backup Zack Moss will be out for a minimum of four to six weeks due to injury. It will be interesting to see how things play out in Indianapolis for both Drake and Taylor.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow former Alabama football players in the NFL.

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Indianapolis Colts workout former Alabama running back Kenyan Drake

Former Alabama RB Kenyan Drake worked out by the Indianapolis Colts.

The last week has been an absolute nightmare in the Indianapolis Colts running back room. For starters, 2021 First-team All-Pro RB Jonathan Taylor and the Colts are not on great terms which led to Taylor requesting a trade. Then to make matters worse, backup RB, Zack Moss, suffered a broken arm that will sideline him for a minimum of four to six weeks.

As a result, the Colts are now in the market to find a back to potentially carry the workload as the situation plays out. Field Yates of ESPN reported that the Colts worked out former Alabama RB Kenyan Drake, as well as Benny Snell and Devine Ozigbo.

Drake has spent the past three seasons with three different franchises in the Cardinals, Raiders and Ravens. Despite being a temporary back for those three clubs, Drake still played in 38 games, 20 of which he started. He posted 2,149 all-purpose yards during that time and found the end zone 17 times.

At this point in his career, Drake is 29 years old and likely isn’t viewed as any franchise’s back of the future, but for a team like Indianapolis, he would be the perfect guy to bridge the gap while Taylor’s contract situation is figured out. The Colts will also have a rookie QB in 2023 and will do everything possible to make his life as easy as possible.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Drake and other former Alabama players in the NFL as the 2023 season approaches.

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List of notable free agents after first week of training camp

There are some big-name options still available in free agency.

It’s usually slim pickings on the free agent market around this time of the year, but surprisingly, there are still several big-name players out there that remain unsigned.

Most of the notable talent is at the running back position with at least two or three potential NFL starters on the list. The Patriots could certainly use help at that position with Ty Montgomery going down with an injury.

They have mostly leaned on Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong Jr. as their top options behind Rhamondre Stevenson. Harris looks the most improved of the two, and they could make the decision to stick with him in the end.

However, they have visited with a few players on this list, including Ezekiel Elliott, Darrell Henderson and Leonard Fournette.

They’ve also reportedly considered a future visit with Dalvin Cook.

But there are more than just running backs on this list of NFL talent. Let’s take a look at some of the more notable unsigned free agents.

Colts held tryout for trio of RBs

The Colts held a workout for a trio of RBs on Wednesday.

The Indianapolis Colts held a tryout for three free-agent running backs Wednesday: Kenyan Drake, Benny Snell and Devine Ozigbo.

After Zack Moss suffered a broken arm and with Jonathan Taylor currently on the PUP list, the Colts have been leaning on a backfield committee.

Considering Moss is expected to be out at least until Week 1 of the regular season, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Colts add some veteran depth to the backfield.

Drake has always been an intriguing running back considering his 4.45 speed, while Snell has provided depth in the past with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ozigbo has intriguing size at 225 pounds but has averaged 2.1 yards per carry for his career.

We’ll see if anything comes of these workouts, but the Colts are likely to continue tweaking the backfield.

Kenyan Drake was one of Cardinals’ most productive RBs

His per-game average both in his entire time and in 2019 were among the best in franchise history.

The Arizona Cardinals had running back Kenyan Drake for only a season and a half. In that time, he was one of the franchise’s most productive backs historically.

His per-game average for rushing yards of 69.5 is higher than any other player (minimum 20 games) other than the franchise’s all-time rushing leader, Ottis Anderson, who averaged 80.8 yards per game in his time with the Cardinals.

He averaged 80.4 yards per game in eight games in 2019. That is the sixth-highest per-game average in a single season in franchise history. Of the other five high averages, Anderson owns four of them. The other is John David Crow, who averaged 89.3 yards per game in 1960.

His time was relatively short in Arizona, but it was productive.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Free agent running backs that could make sense for Cardinals

The Cardinals could use an established veteran to back up James Conner. Here are a few players who are a good fit.

The Arizona Cardinals are set at starting running back with James Conner but the depth behind him is uncertain at best. They have veteran Corey Clement, known mostly for his special teams play, second-year pro Keaontay Ingram, Ty’Son Williams and undrafted rookie Emari Demercado.

It would be a surprise if they didn’t add another veteran back at some point this offseason and there are a few players who make sense.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

5 free agent running backs the Browns could still target in free agency

Which veteran options remain at running back?

It came as a surprise for some fans when the Cleveland Browns did not take a running back in a loaded class in the 2023 NFL draft. Currently, the team has just Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford on the depth chart outside of a couple of players that will battle in camp for a possible practice squad spot. Could they turn back to the open market and find one in NFL free agency?

It would seem unlikely that the team doesn’t bring in another player at the position before camp and could likely choose a veteran with experience in the NFL. Here are five of the best remaining running back free agents a couple of months before training camp begins.

Ravens announce inactives for the Wild Card matchup vs. Bengals

The Ravens announce their inactive players for the Wild Card matchup against the Bengals

The Baltimore Ravens are facing the Cincinnati Bengals in back-to-back weeks. Baltimore lost 27-16 in Week 18 to Cincinnati, but this there is much more at stake, as the playoffs have arrived and the two teams will face off on Wild Card Weekend.

Shortly before kickoff, the Ravens announced their inactive players for this Wild Card matchup. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, who hasn’t practiced in over a month, is on the list, as well as running back Kenyan Drake,  defensive back Brandon Stephens, cornerback Pepe Williams, wide receiver Binjimen Victor, center Tryston Colon, and tight end Charlie Kolar.  Stephens is still dealing with an illness that kept him from Week 18.

Williams and tight end Kolar become inactive with the returns of Marcus Peters and Mark Andrews. Peters is returning from injury after being out since getting injured in Cleveland against the Browns in Week 14, and Andrews was inactive in Week 18 to rest up for the playoffs.  The Ravens need to have big games from both if they want to come out of Cincinnati with a win.

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Ravens RB Gus Edwards being evaluated for a head injury in Week 18 vs. Bengals

Ravens running back Gus Edwards left Baltimore’s Week 18 game against the Bengals

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The Baltimore Ravens faced off against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18. While the team sat out a lot of important players on the offense and defense, they might have lost one more to injury in the first half of the contest in a star offensive player.

Baltimore announced that running back Gus Edwards was being evaluated for a possible head injury. Edwards’s game started out strong with a first down on the first offensive play of the game. If the injury is significant, it might lead to him missing next week’s playoff game.

The shorthanded Ravens could be even more short-handed if Edwards has to miss time. In his absence, running backs Kenyan Drake and Justice Hill should get more opportunities.

Update: Edwards has been ruled out for the remainder of the game

Ravens C Tyler Linderbaum discusses team’s running game success

Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum talks about the success of the running game

Early in the 2022 season, the Baltimore Ravens weren’t having much success running the ball.  It was a running back room composed of Kenyan Drake, Justice Hill, and Mike Davis while J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards worked back into game shape after suffering ACL tears right before the 2021 season.

Since Dobbins and Edwards have returned to the lineup, the running game has put up over 100 yards in each of the last three games. Rookie center Tyler Linderbaum was asked about the offensive line and how the running game has been a success lately, talking about how the offensive line has been coming together and meshing together well.

“Yes, especially this time of year. Being able to run the football, being capable of running the football is important. I think we’re starting to gel together and improve on some things, but the good thing is there is a lot of stuff that we can still get better at, and there are still more yards out there for us to get. So, when the time comes, and they need us to run the ball, I think we have the guys to do it, but it’s just all about going out there and actually working together and doing it.”

If the Ravens can continue to run the ball effectively, they will control the time of possession and help keep the defense fresh.  Those two factors will help them out come playoff time, as the more time they spend on offense, the less the other team will be able to get in rhythm during a game.

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