Report: Chris Ivory to Sign 2-Year Contract with Bills After Jaguars Release

Veteran running back Chris Ivory is reportedly a free agent no longer, as he is expected to sign a two-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported Ivory's deal has a $5.5 million base salary, and the total value can reach $6 million.

Ivory played for three teams in his first eight years, most recently suiting up for the Jacksonville Jaguars the past two seasons. Jacksonville released the 29-year-old in February in a move that will save the team about $4 million in cap space.

Although he has not always been a featured back, Ivory has put together a solid career. He rushed for 800-plus yards in all three seasons with the New York Jets, making the Pro Bowl in 2015 behind 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns. A 4.4 yards-per-carry average for his career makes him a reliable option.

Ivory wound up in a backup role to rookie star Leonard Fournette last season but was ready to carry the ball when called upon. When Fournette was made inactive in Week 9, Ivory had 104 total yards on 23 touches.

Despite signs of being productive at times during the season, touches became harder to come by for the veteran in a crowded backfield as the season went on.

Now, as Jacksonville moves on with Fournette, Ivory has a chance to prove he can continue to move the football in chunks. Given that he hasn't had the normal wear and tear of a workhorse back, perhaps he can avoid the dreaded wall running backs tend to hit at the age of 30.

Six-time Pro Bowler LeSean McCoy is the featured back in Buffalo, make no mistake about it. Four 1,100-plus-yard seasons in the past five years has earned him that role. But as Shady turns 30 in July, perhaps the Bills will look to take some of the workload off his shoulders. Enter Ivory.

The former Jet has experience playing in the AFC East, posting a career year while playing in the division just three seasons ago. Ivory has shown he can carry and catch the football, giving the Bills a chance to give Shady a breather regardless of the situation.

Ivory can be productive in a limited role. Now, the Bills have put together an interesting one-two punch.