Chase Edmonds is coming off the worst season of his career. The 26-year-old running back is on his fourth team in two years and hopes that this time around with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be different.
Edmonds, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, had a chip on his shoulder coming out of Fordham. However, he became complacent. No longer fighting for a roster spot, he became content with his role in Arizona and that seemingly carried over to Miami. Edmonds signed a two-year deal with the Dolphins last offseason and hit a new low on his career.
“You’re like, ‘Okay, things are finally turning around for yourself. Things are finally up and up,’ ” Edmonds said via Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times. “And you know, last season was, just straight up, my worst season ever in all my years of football. Performance-wise, it was just not up to my standard at all. It’s very humbling. …
“I remember coming into the NFL, my chip was just so big, being a (Football Championship Subdivision) guy. I always had to scrap and work for everything. And not that I lost that chip, but Year 3, Year 4, I was playing a lot of snaps. I was really one of the guys in the locker room and the human natural reaction is, like, content, you know what I mean? Like you just don’t have that same (drive).”
Splitting time between the Dolphins and Denver Broncos last season, Edmonds played in 13 games and rushed for just 245 yards on 68 carries (3.6 yard per carry) — his lowest total since his rookie season in Arizona. Edmonds added two touchdowns on the ground, while also hauling in 16 receptions for 157 yards and another score.
Those numbers weren’t good enough for Edmonds, who is now back in the state of Florida and looking to become the running back he once was.
“It’s on the film from my first four years doing it,” Edmonds said. “I know I can be an elite third running back in this league, and I’m going be one of those guys where I’m a big-time mismatch with linebackers coming out of the backfield and I’m eager to prove them wrong. I’m eager to get back out there, you know, add that chip back on my shoulder.”
