When free agency begins Wednesday, the Jacksonville Jaguars plan to add the AFC’s leading rusher in 2015 to their backfield in running back Chris Ivory.
Ivory, who turns 28 this month, ran for 1,070 yards with the New York Jets last season and could combine with second-year back T.J. Yeldon to bring a potent 1-2 punch to a Jacksonville running game that ranked 27th in the NFL last season.
Ivory figures to replace Toby Gerhart, a free-agent bust the Jaguars expected to be a power back when he arrived from Minnesota two years ago. Ivory is known as a hard-charging, physical runner.
Ivory has a career average of 4.6 yards per carry and never logged more than 217 carries in a season. Denard Robinson is likely to remain in the mix unless the Jaguars address the position in the draft.
Yeldon led the team in rushing in 2015 with 74o yards on 182 carries. The 22-year-old ended the season on the sideline because of an sprained medial collateral ligament.
Coach Gus Bradley touted Yeldon as a featured back at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine but hinted he could share carries this season.
“We anticipated him being a first- and second-down back. Didn’t know about him as a third-down back, but he really picked up our protection scheme,” Bradley said. “There were some errors that were made, but for the most part he was very clean in all the protections. I think you can continue to see him grow. We’d like to spread it out a little bit more just to keep the guys fresh, but very pleased with his progress.”
Releasing Gerhart would save the Jaguars $3.5 million.