Smallwood ready to adjust to Ajayi

PHILADELPHIA » Wendell Smallwood has played enough football to know its most basic rule: When something is jostled, it can bounce in some unfortunate ways.

Smallwood is the Eagles’ runningback, and has been a good one through a 7-1 start. But trusting opportunity over demand this week, the Birds traded a fourth-round draft pick to Miami for Pro Bowl running back Jay Ajayi. Let the ricochets begin. And let them begin on the depth chart.

Though Doug Pederson has not been so transparent as to formalize any new playing rotations, it’s logically assumed that Ajay iwill receive some of LeGarrette Blount’s reps, that Blount will receive some of Smallwood’s, and that Smallwood will be marginalized in the second half of the season.

As for Thursday in the Nova Care Complex, all Smallwood did was marginalize that theory.

“It came as a surprise to us all,” the second-year back said. “But wewere all happy. We knew who we were getting with him. And we knew theywere trying tomake this team better.”

Smallwood started the season strong, gaining 105 yards on 22 carries over back-to-back games against the Giants and Chargers. But aminor knee issue cost him two games, and perhaps more. Two weeks ago, hewas given eight carries, but managed just 25 yards against the Redskins. Last week, in a 33-10 victory over visiting San Francisco, he was permitted to carry once.

Enter Ajayi, who has been trusted this season to carry the ball up to 26 times in a Dolphins game… and enter some odd-man-out considerations.