According to Rich Cimini of ESPN on Thursday, the Miami Dolphins have traded running back Kalen Ballage of Peyton, Colorado to the New York Jets for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in the 2021 National Football League Draft. Ballage had spent the last two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, and now is expected to backup veteran running backs Le’Veon Bell of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and Frank Gore of Miami, Florida in the Big Apple.
Ballage has had 110 rushes for 326 yards and four touchdowns over two seasons in Miami. He has also had 23 catches for 119 yards. In 2019, Ballage had 74 rushes for 135 yards and three touchdowns, while having 14 catches for 63 yards.
Also in 2019, Ballage had the first six starts of his NFL career. However, he did not make the most of his opportunity. In the Dolphins season opener a 59-10 Miami loss to Baltimore, Ballage had five carries for -1 yard. The game is known for Lamar Jackson’s remarkable passing skills as he completed 17 of 20 passes for 324 touchdowns and five touchdowns.
A lot was expected from Ballage when he had a breakout game on December 16, 2018 in a 41-17 Dolphins loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Ballage had 12 carries for 123 yards and one touchdown even though Miami lost to the Purple People Eaters by 24 points. However, over his last two games in 2018, Ballage only got 57 yards on 16 carries.
The fact that Ballage is no longer with the Dolphins should not be a huge surprise. In the offseason, the Dolphins tried to upgrade their running back position by signing Jordan Howard from the Philadelphia Eagles, and acquiring Matt Breida from the San Francisco 49ers via a trade.
