Twelve months ago, Ajayi played for the Miami Dolphins. On October 31, though, Howie Roseman pulled off a big deal, sending a fourth-round draft pick in 2018 for Ajayi, and in seven games down the stretch of the regular season Ajayi delivered with his hard-running, legs-churning style and averaged a whopping 5.8 yards per carry as he gained 408 yards and a score and added 10 receptions for another 91 yards and a touchdown to help the Eagles secure the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. It was a masterful stroke from Roseman to add one of the finishing pieces to the offense.

In the three postseason victories, Ajayi carried 42 times for 184 yards (4.4-yard average), including a bruising 57 yards on nine carries (6.3-yard average) in Super Bowl LII. It's fair to say that the Eagles would have been hard-pressed to win it all without Ajayi. The trade was a terrific move.

Ajayi then reported to the NovaCare Complex for the spring Organized Team Activities in the best shape of his life, hopeful of being the go-to running back he wanted to be. A late-summer foot injury limited Ajayi leading into the regular season and then a back injury sidelined him for a full game against Indianapolis, but Ajayi still contributed 184 yards and three touchdowns on 45 carries before he was hurt in pass protection.

"The guy rushing (Anthony Barr) gave me a little shimmy and I lost my anchor and didn't have any leverage and I heard a pop," Ajayi said. "I went over to get it looked at, did some tests, and it felt fine. I went back in the game and played and it was OK. Then it swelled after the game and we did more tests and found out the extent of the injury.

"Life is full of ups and downs, man. Highs and lows. You can go to extreme highs and then extreme lows right away. It's crazy. You just have to enjoy every moment of it while you're in that moment. For me, it's definitely been a whirlwind. I don't know what the future holds, so I really wish I could have showcased what I could do. I know my season's over. I wished I could showcase to the Eagles what kind of player I am. I felt I was just getting to that point where I was feeling my best. It makes me sick not being out there with those guys. I understand what we're trying to accomplish. It hurts me that I can't be out there helping the team. I can only be a great supporter for the team and stay in touch with the guys and let them know that I'm with them all the way."

"The face of London football" as only the fifth British-born player to win a Super Bowl finished the interview. He was handed his set of crutches and he walked away from the exhibition, looking back once more with a head shake and a smile of satisfaction. What could have been an exhibition of the returning NFL hometown hero instead, well, it wasn't quite the same, was it? Ajayi moved slowly across the lobby toward the front door.

"See you Sunday at the game," I said, shaking his hand.