Dolphins RB De’Von Achane’s Injury Outlook Not ‘Optimistic’

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, head coach Jeff Hafley spoke with the media after today’s loss to the Chiefs and provided an update on the outlook for the team’s starting running back. “To be honest with you,” Hafley began, “it does not sound very optimistic.”

He delayed any further updates on Achane until further medical testing can be performed, but the media pressed on with other running back questions. Backup running back Jaylen Wright had been ruled out for the day as he was limited throughout the week dealing with both a stinger and a foot issue. Still, the Dolphins came into today’s game without activating any other rushers, so when Achane went down, second-year back Ollie Gordon II became the only active player at the position.

“That’s a fair question,” Hafley admitted. “We felt good with (wide receiver) Malik Washington in that third spot. When you look at the entire roster, every move we make affects another position. We felt good with Malik. He’s really good with the ball in his hands.”

The leading rusher on the day ended up being quarterback Malik Willis, who carried the ball nine times for 56 yards. Achane exited the game after only three carries with 17 yards, Gordon tallied 17 rushes for 41 yards and a touchdown, and Washington toted the ball twice for five yards. Washington also continued to contribute to the passing game, reeling in five of 10 targets for 56 additional yards.

Assuming Hafley’s feel of the situation is accurate and the team will be without Achane for an extended period, that leaves the Dolphins with four young running backs. Wright, a fourth-round pick out of Tennessee two years ago, has two starts in 27 games to start his career, rushing for 547 yards and two touchdowns over that time. Gordon, a sixth-rounder out of Oklahoma State last year, had one start as a rookie and has 247 yards and four touchdowns rushing through 20 games to start his career.

On the practice squad, the Dolphins have Jarquez Hunter and Carlos Washington Jr. Hunter, a fourth-round pick out of Auburn last year, only appeared in five games for the Rams as a rookie and only appeared on special teams in those games. Washington, an undrafted back three years ago out of Southeastern Lousiana, spent the past three years in Atlanta, appearing in two games on special teams during that time.

The Dolphins will have Achane undergo testing tomorrow to determine the extent of his knee injury, and they will obviously hope for more a more optimistic outlook than Hafley had today. If the $64MM-rusher is going to be out for an extended period, though, Miami may need to look into adding some veteran experience to the room.