TEMPE, Ariz. -- As he prepares to enter free agency in March for the first time after four seasons, Arizona Cardinals running back Stepfan Taylor said he feels like his career hasn’t panned out as he expected it to.
Taylor’s offensive role hit a career low last season, when he had four carries for 12 yards on just 11 offensive snaps. However, he continued to establish himself as a pillar of Arizona’s special teams unit, playing 269 special teams snaps a year after playing 271, according to sportingcharts.com.
“It’s a business,” he said. “They set out your role, and you got to go out and play your role. Obviously, I would’ve liked to touch the ball more.
“But like I said, it’s a business, and whoever they feel is going to be in the right spot, you got to go out there and do it.”
Last season was Taylor's second straight with less than 100 yards rushing. In 2015, he had 17 carries for 58 yards as his role changed when the Cardinals signed and drafted Chris Johnson and David Johnson, respectively.
Like most Cardinals in the 2013 draft class who are approaching free agency for the first time this offseason, Taylor doesn’t know what to expect. While he faces the reality that his future may not be in Arizona, Taylor has concentrated on getting healthy more than anything else, he said.
“I’m just trying to take it a day at a time,” Taylor said. “I’m really just focused on getting back to where I want to be as far as physical-wise, get healthy, get in the best shape and whatever happens with that happens.
“Been banged up. That’s just football. Just lingering injuries.”
Taylor said he likes the Cardinals locker room and doesn’t want to let any of his teammates down “for selfish reasons.” But he also knows he needs to look out for himself.
“Obviously, being a competitor, you want to get out there and run the ball and show your capabilities,” Taylor said. “I just got to see what’s going to happen, see what they want and go from there.”
