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In the wake of a season-altering injury to their star running back, the Miami Dolphins have turned to a practice squad promotion to bolster their ground attack. De'Von Achane, the team's leading offensive weapon, suffered a torn ACL last Sunday during an 11-yard run against the Kansas City Chiefs, ending his 2026 campaign prematurely. The Dolphins have responded by signing running back Carlos Washington Jr. to the active roster off the practice squad, the team announced on Saturday.
Achane's absence leaves a significant void. In 2025, he produced the third-best rushing season in franchise history, amassing 1,350 yards and leading the NFL with a 5.7 yards-per-carry average. This season, however, he managed just 127 rushing yards and never surpassed 100 scrimmage yards in any game. Now, Miami will rely on a committee of backups, including Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon, to fill the gap.
Wright, a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has shown promise but inconsistency. He missed Week 3 with a stinger, and in his previous starting opportunities—filling in for an injured Achane last season—he posted a career-high 107 rushing yards against the New York Jets but followed that with a 23-yard dud against the New England Patriots in the season finale. Gordon, the top college running back in 2023, scored Miami's only touchdown against Kansas City last week but averaged a mere 2.4 yards per carry. He was primarily used in short-yardage situations last season, averaging 2.8 yards per attempt.
Washington, at 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, impressed the coaching staff during the preseason and has been on the practice squad for the first three weeks. He beat out Jarquez Hunter, another practice squad running back, for the promotion. Washington has appeared in two NFL games—one for the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 and one in 2025—but has yet to take a regular-season offensive snap. He originally signed with the Falcons in April 2023 as an undrafted free agent out of Southeastern Louisiana, where he rushed 147 times for 715 yards (4.9 average) and 15 touchdowns in his lone season after transferring from New Hampshire. After three years in Atlanta, he was released on May 11 and signed with Miami 10 days later.
In addition to Washington's signing, the Dolphins elevated defensive lineman Mazi Smith and edge rusher Rodney McGraw to the active roster for their Week 4 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. The team announced these moves via social media on Saturday.
Key Analysis
The Dolphins' backfield remains a major question mark heading into Sunday's game. With Achane out, the coaching staff must decide how to distribute carries among Wright, Gordon, and now Washington. Wright's big-play ability is tantalizing but inconsistent, while Gordon's short-yardage role may limit his overall touches. Washington's preseason performance earned him this opportunity, but his lack of regular-season experience makes him an unknown quantity. Miami's ability to generate a running game will be crucial as they try to keep their season afloat without their most dynamic playmaker.
Originally reported by yahoo.