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Beanie Wells | Running Back

Team: Unsigned Free Agent
Age / DOB:  (24) / 8/7/1988
Ht / Wt:  6'2' / 229
College: Ohio State
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Beanie Wells' knee situation is bad enough that it "would be a risk for the Steelers to sign him."
Wells' market has gone dead silent since his calamitous Steelers physical, and casts doubt on his ability to get a deal any time soon. Wells will either have to be willing to settle for no guaranteed money, or wait to resume visiting teams until he can prove he's healthy. With both the Steelers and Cardinals giving a vote of no confidence to Wells' knee, he could have trouble getting a contract before camp. Mar 18 - 11:34 AM

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Date:

A source tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette free agent Beanie Wells has a "BAD wheel."

The Cardinals were reportedly "not optimistic" about Beanie's knees before releasing him, and it appears his Steelers physical produced the same result. Plagued by knee woes throughout his career, knee and toe issues cost Wells half of 2012. Wells may need to take a few months to get as healthy as possible before finding a new home.
Mar 15 - 12:30 PM

The Steelers had free agent Beanie Wells in for a physical earlier this week.

The Cardinals were reportedly "not optimistic" about the condition of Wells' knees before releasing him. Steelers doctors may have found something they didn't like as well, as he left club headquarters without a contract. It's fair to wonder if Wells might need a knee surgery before he finds a landing spot.
Mar 14 - 12:35 PM

Per beat writer Kent Somers, the Cardinals were "not optimistic" about the state of free agent Beanie Wells' right knee.

Wells has first-round caliber talent and won't turn 25 until August, but his injury history is going to be a major red flag. He missed eight games last year with knee/toe issues and also struggled with right knee issues in 2010.
Mar 13 - 4:08 PM

The Bengals hosted free agent Beanie Wells on Tuesday.

Per Yahoo's Mike Silver, Wells is "apparently exploring other options" now. The Steelers are also rumored to have some interest. The Bengals have also "poked around" Reggie Bush and Rashard Mendenhall. Per Silver, Bush is "too expensive" despite Cincy's untapped salary cap wad and Mendenhall is "being wooed aggressively" by the Dolphins. (In addition to the Broncos and Cardinals.)
Mar 12 - 10:23 PM

Sources tell ESPN.com that the Bengals and Steelers are showing interest in free agent Beanie Wells.

The Bengals already have a plodding two-down back that runs to contact in BenJarvus Green-Ellis, so it would be an odd fit. The Steelers, meanwhile, would likely consider Wells an upgrade on Jonathan Dwyer. Although Beanie was a bust in Arizona, he's still just 24 and never appeared truly healthy. He's among the top-seven running backs available right now.
Source: ESPN.com
Mar 12 - 3:40 PM

Cardinals informed RB Beanie Wells of his release.

Wells is only 24 and has never lacked for talent, but it's telling that the Cardinals cut him despite an affordable $1,407,500 base salary. Beanie is completely inept in the passing game and new coach Bruce Arians is a pass-first mind. The 31st overall pick in the 2009 draft, Wells' four-year Arizona career ends with one season of 200-plus carries, seemingly countless "nagging" injuries, and a pedestrian 4.0 YPC average. Wells will get another chance, but he's just another "guy" in a middling group of free-agent running backs.
Mar 11 - 4:03 PM

New Cardinals coach Bruce Arians considers pass protection a "prerequisite" for running backs.

Beanie Wells remains a work in progress in pass protection, so his future with team is up in the air. Wells is an early-down plodder at this point, but new GM Steve Keim had some nice things to say about him. "Beanie is still a big horse who can finish runs and create yardage after contract," claimed Keim. Ryan Williams, more of a three-down back, has a leg up in Arizona's backfield.
Feb 21 - 5:01 PM

Beanie Wells triggered an escalator in his rookie deal, raising his 2013 salary from $1,157,500 to $1,407,500.

It's not a massive increase by any means, but with Wells' salary increasing and skills decreasing, it makes it easier for the Cardinals to cut ties with him. Wells toted the rock 88 times for just 234 yards (2.7 YPC) and five touchdowns in 2012, a year after rumbling for 1,047 yards and ten scores. Wells is entering the final year of his contract.
Jan 30 - 8:44 PM

Beanie Wells is looking forward to a "fresh start" under head coach Bruce Arians.

Wells had a much-publicized fractured relationship with Ken Whisenhunt that most recently manifested when Wells was benched after the Bears returned his fumble for a touchdown in Arizona's home finale loss. Interestingly, Arians did not mention Wells in his introductory news conference, instead praising Ryan Williams. Wells is entering the final year of his contract, so this'll be the Cardinals' last offseason to get trade compensation for him.
Jan 26 - 10:19 AM

Coach Ken Whisenhunt attributed to Beanie Wells' Week 17 benching to William Powell's hot hand and an abnormally high number of passing-down snaps after falling behind the 49ers.

We wonder if Whisenhunt made the comments with a straight face. Wells didn't get a single carry, which suggests last week's post-game outburst did indeed land him in the doghouse. Although Wells is under contract through 2013, the Arizona Republic suspects his relationship with the team "may be beyond repair." Much will depend on Whiz's fate this week.
Mon, Dec 31, 2012 12:33:00 PM

Coming off his zero-carry afternoon in Sunday's season-ending loss, Beanie Wells said he would "love" to remain in Arizona.

"It is what it is," Wells said of coach Ken Whisenhunt declining to give him the rock against the 49ers. Whisenhunt's decision was surely a result of Wells saying Week 17 would be an "audition for 31 other teams," but it might as well have been performance-based. Wells made Jackie Battle look like Walter Payton this season, averaging 2.7 yards on his 88 carries. Although he's signed for just $1.157 million in 2013, Wells seems certain to be gone.
Mon, Dec 31, 2012 12:30:00 PM

Beanie Wells didn't receive a single carry in Week 17 versus the 49ers.

Wells ended up with no video to put on his "audition for 31 other teams" tape as he sat behind William Powell and La'Rod Stephens-Howling. Wells only started seven games in 2012 due to toe and knee injuries. He rushed 88 times for just 234 yards (2.7 YPC) and five touchdowns. Most of that production came in Week 15 against the Lions. Wells is signed for a cheap $1,157,500 in 2013, but he will almost certainly be let go. He's only 24 years old, but he ran like he was 34 this season. Wells is strictly a plodder at the moment, and he needs to search for the fountain of youth in the offseason. He is only one year removed from a 245-carry, 1,047-yard, ten-touchdown season in 2011, though.
Sun, Dec 30, 2012 10:19:00 PM

Beat writer Kent Somers believes the "best option" for the Cardinals appears to be keeping Beanie Wells in 2013.

Wells suspects he'll be playing his final game as a Cardinal Sunday. But he's under contract for just $1.15 million in 2013 and the Cards don't exactly have a backup plan lined up. Ryan Williams is coming off two season-ending injuries, LaRod Stephens-Howling is an unrestricted free agent that will test the market and William Powell/Alfonso Smith are backup-caliber talents at best. Beanie could very well be forced to play out the final year of his rookie deal in Arizona.
Thu, Dec 27, 2012 10:41:00 AM

After Sunday's Week 16 benching, Beanie Wells told reporters Monday that his "days are numbered" in Arizona.

Wells says he hopes to play in Week 17 in order to "audition for 31 other teams." Although Wells scored some late-season goal-line touchdowns, he was thoroughly ineffective this year with a 2.66 YPC average on 234 carries. His kind is also a dying breed in the NFL, as a two-down back lacking pass-game value. Wells probably wouldn't bring more than a late-round pick via trade.
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 02:42:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Nathan Stanley
2Trent Edwards
3Tim Tebow
4Collin Klein
RB1Michael Turner
2D.J. Ware
3Beanie Wells
4Curtis Brinkley
5Jamie Harper
6Brandon Saine
7Stefphon Jefferson
8Richard Murphy
9Javarris James
10Darren Evans
GLB1Michael Turner
2Montell Owens
3Beanie Wells
4Curtis Brinkley
3RB1D.J. Ware
2Beanie Wells
3Curtis Brinkley
FB1Lousaka Polite
2Montell Owens
3Spencer Larsen
4Brit Miller
5Brock Bolen
6Tony Fiammetta
7Owen Schmitt
8Robert Hughes
9Nate Eachus
10Jourdan Brooks
11Ryan Roberson
12Eddie Williams
13Ryan D'Imperio
14Patrick DiMarco
WR11Jabar Gaffney
2Laurent Robinson
3Steve Breaston
4Titus Young
5Ben Obomanu
6Emmanuel Arceneaux
7Kassim Osgood
8Jeremy Ebert
9Justin Hilton
10Bert Reed
11Cole McKenzie
12Rashaard Carter
WR21Brandon Lloyd
2Early Doucet
3Kerry Meier
4Brandon Banks
5Darius Hanks
6Duke Calhoun
7Lavasier Tuinei
8Seyi Ajirotutu
9Michael Calvin
10Ronald Johnson
11DeMarco Sampson
12Mark Harrison
13Jason Thompson
14Gerrard Sheppard
WR31Jabar Gaffney
2Laurent Robinson
3Steve Breaston
TE1Zach Potter
2Randy McMichael
3David Thomas
4Kevin Boss
5Daniel Graham
6Josh Baker
7Steve Watson
8Joe Sawyer
9Dedrick Epps
10Martin Rucker
11Evan Moore
12Taylor Cook
K1John Potter
2Derek Dimke