Dolphins RB Foster retires

Four-time Pro Bowler Arian Foster, at 30 trying to come back from from a torn Achilles tendon, says he can no longer take the punishment a running back endures, so he is retiring midway through an injury-plagued season with the Dolphins.

DAVIE — Arian Foster’s comeback campaign lasted all of four games with the Miami Dolphins. The fourtime Pro Bowl selection retired from the NFL on Monday following a second consecutive disappointing performance in platoon action for the Dolphins (3-4).

Foster, who signed a one-year incentive-laden deal with the Dolphins in the offseason, was attempting to come back from an Achilles injury that limited him to four games with Houston last season.

Foster, who rushed for 6,527 yards and scored 68 touchdowns in his eightyear NFL career, announced his retirement on the Uninterrupted website.

“There comes a time in every athlete's career where their ambition and their body are no longer on the same page. I've reached that point," Foster wrote. “It's hard to write those words because this game has meant everything to me ... my therapy, my joy, my solace and my enemy.

“I've been fortunate enough to play many successful years in this league. I've given a lot to this game, and given up a lot for it," said Foster, who gained 55 yards on 22 carries and caught six passes for 78 yards in the four games he played with the Dolphins. “But it has returned to me more than I could have ever asked for."

At this point it’s unclear if Foster suffered another injury setback. He missed three weeks earlier in the season due to a groin injury.

His retirement creates an open roster spot for the Dolphins, and will probably increase Damien Williams' workload as Jay Ajayi's primary backup. It should also move rookie tailback Kenyan Drake, the team's third-round pick, up the depth chart.

For his career, Foster averaged 4.4 yards per carry. Foster's 6,527 career rushing yards are the secondmost in NFL history among undrafted running backs, trailing only the 8,172 yards put up by former Kansas City Chiefs standout Priest Holmes (1997-2007).

The Dolphins head into their bye week riding backto-back victories, and one of the main reasons is the dazzling performance of Ajayi. His consecutive 200-yard rushing games have him mentioned alongside O.J. Simpson, Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams, the only others to accomplish that feat.

Much of the credit, Ajayi indicated, has to go to the Miami’s healthy O-line.