De’Von Achane’s knee injury could force the Miami Dolphins to make a major adjustment in their backfield. Achane left Sunday’s 24-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs during Miami’s opening drive and was later ruled out. After the game, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport relayed a concerning update from Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley, who said, “To be honest with you, it does not sound optimistic.”
There is not yet a confirmed diagnosis or timetable for Achane, but Sunday gave us the first real look at how Miami could handle the backfield if he misses time. Ollie Gordon II was clearly the first option once Achane went down, while Jaylen Wright’s eventual return from his own injuries could determine whether this becomes more of a committee.
Ollie Gordon II was the clear replacement
Gordon entered Sunday with only three carries for seven yards this season, but his role changed immediately after Achane exited. He finished with 17 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown, including a three-yard score on Miami’s opening possession. The efficiency was not impressive at 2.4 yards per carry, but the workload was the bigger takeaway.
Miami treated Gordon like its primary traditional running back for the rest of the game, giving him early-down work and trusting him near the goal line. For a player who had barely been involved through the first two weeks, jumping straight to 17 carries is a pretty strong indication that Gordon would lead the backfield if Achane misses time.
Miami has leaned heavily on Achane
The Dolphins have a lot of volume to replace. Through the first two games, Achane had 31 of Miami’s 37 carries, accounting for roughly 84% of the position’s rushing attempts. He had also caught seven passes after finishing last season with 67 receptions for 488 yards.
That is what makes this more complicated than simply promoting Gordon. Miami can give Gordon the carries, but Achane’s role has included explosive runs, targets out of the backfield and a much larger share of the offense than either Gordon or Wright has handled this season.
Where does Jaylen Wright fit?
Wright was inactive Sunday while dealing with foot and stinger injuries, which left Gordon as Miami’s only real replacement once Achane exited. If Wright is healthy enough to return, the Dolphins could shift toward more of a split backfield rather than asking Gordon to handle everything.
Gordon would likely remain the favorite for early-down and goal-line work, while Wright could provide more speed and change-of-pace touches. Malik Willis also has to be factored into the rushing distribution after leading Miami with 56 rushing yards on nine attempts against Kansas City. The Dolphins ran the ball 31 times overall Sunday, so there should still be enough rushing volume to support multiple players if Achane is unavailable.
What the Dolphins backfield could look like without Achane
Sunday gave Miami a pretty clear starting point. Gordon should lead the backfield in carries and goal-line opportunities, Wright could work into a complementary role once healthy, and Willis will continue to take a meaningful share of the team’s rushing attempts.
What Miami does not have is a true one-for-one replacement for Achane. He rushed for 1,350 yards on 238 carries last season, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt, while adding another 488 receiving yards. The Dolphins can replace his touches if necessary, but replacing his explosiveness and versatility would be much more difficult.
