TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals' experiment to use Andre Ellington as a wide receiver has all but ended.
If Ellington makes Arizona's 53-man roster for next season, it'll have to be at running back, coach Bruce Arians said Wednesday.
At the NFL owners meetings in March, Arians said Ellington, a natural running back who re-signed with the Cardinals this offseason, will convert to receiver. But with a receivers room that is currently 12 men deep, there wasn't room for another.
"He got all the work he needed to give us another running back/receiver type guy that's very versatile," Arians said Wednesday.
Arizona, however, is also with pass-catching running backs, starting with David Johnson. The Cardinals also drafted T.J. Logan, who fits that mold as well.
For Ellington to make the roster, Arians said he needs to play like he did as a rookie.
"Run harder, run tougher like he did as a rookie," Arians said. "Once he tore the foot up and the knee up, he kind of looked for places to fall down too much."
Ellington agreed with Arians' assessment, but he said he needs to put that mentality behind him.
"I have to do a good job on focusing on what's in front of me and do a good job of focusing on what's important and try to eliminate that mental mindset of trying not to get injured and just go out there and play loose," he said.
Ellington's career has been slowed by multiple injuries to his foot, hip, knee and head. It's led to a decline in action and a subsequent decline in production.
He ran for 652 yards and three touchdowns on 118 carries while starting one game as a rookie in 2013. He set career highs in his second season with 201 carries for 660 yards and three touchdowns while playing in 12 games. A knee injury in the season opener in 2015 limited his availability as he wound up with 289 yards and three touchdowns on 45 carries.
Last season, as one of Johnson's backups, Ellington ran for 96 yards on 34 carries.
Ellington, 28, has caught passes out of the backfield before. He had 39 catches for 271 yards as a rookie and 46 for 395 in 2014. But he's had 15 and 12 catches in each of the last two seasons.
"I got to kind of climb my way back up," Ellington said. "Over the years, I didn't perform as well as I'm capable of due to the injuries, but I just have to keep fighting and get back healthy so I can get out there and compete.
"I just got to do a great job of fighting to get back in shape. And once I'm in shape, stay there."