The 2015 season started off nicely for Andre Ellington. The former Clemson running back opened the year as Arizona’s featured back, but after suffering a PCL sprain he missed three games and was never fully healthy, again.

“I had two significant injuries that were kind of hard to overcome,” he said following’s Sunday’s loss to Carolina in the NFC Championship Game. “But luckily I’m able to go into this off-season somewhat healthy to where I can kind of take it from there and go.”

The off-season came unexpectedly for Ellington and the Cardinals. They were hammered by Panthers in the NFC Championship Game, 49-15, after a 13-3 regular season.

“You have to evaluate yourself as players and as a team. You have to think about, ‘What can I do better next time to help our team win?’ That way, when we get to this point, again, we will know what we need to do to get past it,” Ellington said. “It’s hard to say because losing this game was not what you wanted, but we don’t have any reason to hang our heads either. We just have to reevaluate ourselves and come back to work in the off-season.”

Personally, Ellington has to get past the disappointment of not being able to contribute the way he might have wanted to in 2015, and especially in the championship game. Against Carolina, he had one carry for no yards as well as one catch for no yards.

Ellington finished the year with 45 carries for 289 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 15 receptions for 148 yards.

“First and foremost, I have to grind hard in the off-season just to get my body healthy. That’s what is kind of holding me back to being able to contribute the way I want to,” he said. “I have that chip on my shoulder. I did not have the season that I wanted to have, but next year it is worth taking.

“I have to go out there each and every day and work harder than I did this year.”

Though he says he is at about 80 percent, Ellington says he likes where he is at and he should be in position to contribute when mini-camps begin later this year. Right now, his plans are to work hard and get his body back in the best physical condition he can get in.

The 2016 football season will be a big one because Ellington will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of year and he will be looking to sign his second contract, which is even bigger for a running back in the NFL.

Most running backs’ NFL careers last three seasons. Ellington will be entering his fourth with the Cardinals in a few months.

“I have to approach it different than I have any in other year. I have to get that mindset and go out and take what is mine,” the former Clemson star said. “I can’t take anything for granted. I have to work hard.

“Getting a second contract is a big deal. It is definitely a big deal. I’m just going to approach each and every day in the off-season like it is my last and use that mentality to go into the season.”