With Andre Ellington out, Stepfan Taylor to start at RB for Arizona Cardinals

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals’ goal was to base their offense around running back Andre Ellington, and for the most part that’s exactly what they’ve done.

But for the first time this season, they will have to play without him.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians announced Friday that Ellington will not play in Sunday’s home game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The second-year pro who has been dealing with a foot injury all season is also trying to recover from a hip pointer suffered in last Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Ellington is the only running back on the team with more than 25 rushing attempts, and he’s also tied with Larry Fitzgerald for the team lead in receptions with 46. Needless to say, he will not be easy to replace, though behind him on the running back depth chart are Stepfan Taylor, Marion Grice, Robert Hughes and Kerwynn Williams.

“We’re just going to play it by ear,” Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said of the pecking order without Ellington. “Each guy’s got a little package for this one, and there’s always a surprise here and there.

“Stepf will start the game and we’ll play Marion, we’ll play the rest of the guys.”

Taylor is second on the team with 25 rushing attempts, while Grice has 11 and Hughes four. Williams, who was promoted from Arizona’s practice squad Friday afternoon, has appeared in two NFL games during his brief career, though has yet to receive a carry.

Arians praised Grice’s growth with the team, saying he knows the system and has done well when given opportunities.

But Taylor, who was drafted one round ahead of Ellington last year, has the most experience in the system, and he’ll be the running back when the Cardinals take the field Sunday.

“Just more opportunities,” Taylor said. “It’s unfortunate that (Ellington) went down, but it’s the NFL, injuries happen — we’ve had a lot of injuries go on, and the next man has got to step up. I’m grateful for the opportunity, got to make the most of it.”

Taylor has gained just 83 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries this season, though he also has three receiving touchdowns on eight catches.

He said he does not feel any extra pressure heading into this game as a starter, because he prepares the best he can throughout the week.

“Just ready for it, more than anything,” he said.

Taylor and the rest of the running backs will be facing a Chiefs defense that ranks 30th in the NFL, giving up 136.4 rushing yards per game while surrendering at least 100 yards to an opposing running back in three consecutive games. The Cardinals have yet to have a 100-yard rusher this season, and their recent struggles in the run game have been well documented.

“It’s big,” Taylor said. “We’ve been wanting to get the run game going. It’s a big part of the offense that we need to pick up. Need to be more balanced and help Drew, get hits off of him and things like that. We definitely want to get the run game going, have got to make the most of this opportunity.”

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