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The Miami Dolphins head into Sunday’s game against the Seattle Sehawks with Arian Foster holding the top spot on the depth chart. Behind him, Jay Ajayi had been expected to see plenty of playing time, expect the coaches seem to have something else in mind.
Ajayi was left in Miami, a move that was described by head coach Adam Gase as a “coach’s decision.” He is officially out of the game on Sunday.
The news was reported by multiple reporters nearly simultaneously:
Jay Ajayi is out. Left back in Miami. Coaches decision.
— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) September 9, 2016
Jay Ajayi will not play Sunday. Left home in Miami. A coach's decision.
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) September 9, 2016
Jay Ajayi was left in Miami due to coaches decision.
— Chris Perkins (@chrisperk) September 9, 2016
The Miami Herald’s Adam Beasley expanded a little on what could be part of the cause for Ajayi not being with the team this weekend:
A Dolphins player told me earlier this week that Ajayi was upset over demotion. "If you let it get the best of you, it shows," he said.
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) September 9, 2016
Dolphins player on Ajayi, cont: "Let's see what you're made of."
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) September 9, 2016
Ajayi was the presumed starting running back for the Dolphins most of the offseason and preseason, replacing Lamar Miller who left via free agency. When the team put together the first depth chart of the regular season, however, it was the veteran Foster, who was signed this summer after being released by the Houston Texans earlier this spring, who held the top spot on the depth chart.
Did the perceived demotion lead to Ajayi doing something worthy of a benching? It seems like it, but that might just be speculation at this point. Whatever the case, Ajayi is not in Seattle with the rest of the team.