Arizona Cardinals GM Steve Keim: Andre Ellington has been a difference maker
Nov 3, 2014, 3:30 PM | Updated: 5:40 pm
Every week, running back Andre Ellington shows up on the Arizona Cardinals injury report, limited in at least one of the team’s three practices.
And every week, Ellington shows up on Sunday and plays a great game.
Week 9 was no different. Ellington, who has been slowed by a foot injury all season, ran for a season-high 95 yards and caught a fourth-quarter touchdown pass in the Cardinals’ 28-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
The man who drafted Ellington, general manager Steve Keim, is impressed with how the second-year back is going about his business.
“He’s the guy that makes this thing go offensively,” Keim told Doug and Wolf Monday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “He’s such a dynamic runner. His ability to bounce and outrun people on the perimeter and some of the things he does in the passing game, he really opens up other things for our bigger receivers on the outside.
“He has sure been fun to watch.”
Despite the foot issue, Ellington has maintained a steady workload. In Sunday’s contest, he got 25 touches — the fourth straight game he’s hit the quarter-century mark — Keim isn’t worried about his back taking too much punishment.
“I’m not concerned because Andre plays smart. There’s some self-preservation when you watch him on tape,” Keim said. “Whether he gets out of bounds or goes down.”
Ellington is eighth in the league in rushing yards with 559 through eight games, and he’s added another 313 receiving yards.
Keim is just glad the former Clemson star is wearing Cardinal red.
“I have to pinch myself and realize that we got him in the sixth round, because he really has been a difference maker for us.”
