The Indianapolis Colts announced the signing of veteran running back Spencer Ware on Tuesday, adding some intrigue to a backfield that should now have some competition.
The Colts brought in Ware on a free-agent visit before the draft, which shows there was always some interest to add him to the young backfield. It remains to be seen what role he will hold, but it’s an interesting signing on paper.
Here are five things to know about the Colts’ new running back:
LSU product and sixth-round pick
Ware was a product of LSU having limited production. However, he was still selected in the 2013 NFL Draft in the sixth round by the Seattle Seahawks as a backup to Marshawn Lynch.
Ware would only appear in two games during his rookie season before being released ahead of his sophomore campaign in 2014. He’d miss most of the season sitting in free agency before the Kansas City Chiefs picked him up in December 2014.
Backup role with the Chiefs
Ware signed a futures contract with the Chiefs at the end of the 2014 season. He spent the entire offseason with the Chiefs competing for a role in the backfield that was then led by Jamaal Charles. However, he was cut when rosters were reduced to 53 players.
The Chiefs wound up signing him to the practice squad immediately after being cut, which is where he spent the first half of the 2015 season. He was eventually brought up to the active roster where he would play 11 games (two starts) while recording 72 carries for 403 yards and two touchdowns.
Ware averaged 5.6 yards per carry in that season, which firmly entrenched him as Charles’ backup.
Breakout year and torn ACL
With Jamaal Charles coming off of a knee injury, Ware got plenty of chances to show off his talents in the backfield during the 2016 season, which wound up being his most productive campaign.
During that 2016 season, Ware played 14 games (all starts) while recording 214 carries for 921 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught 33 passes for 447 yards and two touchdowns.
After the Chiefs released Charles in 2017, Ware was slated to be the starting running back but tore his ACL during the preseason. This eventually led to Kareem Hunt becoming the Chiefs starting running back at the time.
History with Chris Ballard
If a player has had a history with the Colts general manager, there is a good chance some interest is there. Ware and Ballard were both with the Chiefs from 2014 until 2017 when the latter took the job with the Colts.
There is a good chance they formed a relationship at least to the point where Ballard felt interested in bringing Ware in as a depth piece. Though the Colts didn’t need depth, having a veteran presence like Ware could help the production of the room.
Role in the backfield
It remains to be seen how the Colts will use Ware. He’s a veteran running back that suffered a torn ACL in 2017, but he’s been an efficient runner throughout his career. He’s also shown the ability to be a pass catcher out of the backfield.
It isn’t clear if the Colts want Ware to compete for the starting job, but he will likely be competing for a role with Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins. If he can stay healthy, Ware could be a nice veteran presence to a backfield that is extremely young.
Marlon Mack is entering his third season after a solid sophomore campaign. Ware has been through some stuff in the NFL and could help Mack develop more both as a runner and a pass catcher.
