Devon Achane

Latest On Dolphins RB De’Von Achane’s 2024 Role

The Dolphins signed accomplished wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. this offseason to serve as a complement to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and the team may also be getting increased WR reps from a somewhat unliklier in-house source. As David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel details, the ‘Fins appear to be making a concerted effort to get second-year running back De’Von Achane more looks as a wideout.

Given Achane’s remarkable rookie season in 2023, in which he accumulated 800 rushing yards on just 103 carries, it makes sense that Miami would want to get the Texas A&M product the ball as much as possible and in as many ways as possible. Head coach Mike McDaniel, who believes the “sophmore slump” is a real phenomenon, said, “a lot of times, if you have success as a rookie, you go one of two ways. You’re either starved for more or you can get kind of comfortable. … You get out what you put in, and I think [Achane is] aware of that because nobody wants to have the climax of their career be the first year.”

To that end, Achane himself said that one of his primary goals this offseason was to improve his route-running so he could get more burn in the passing game, and he spoke about his work as a receiver during the Dolphins’ spring practices.

“Just me lining up at different positions, as far as like receiver, running routes and stuff,” he said. “That’s something that we’re doing different this year, so that’s something that I’ve been doing in the offseason.”

To be clear, Achane did see a fair amount of action from receiver positions in 2023. Of the 323 offensive snaps that Pro Football Focus credited him with last season, 73 of them came in the slot and 33 came outside the numbers. Jared Dubin of CBS Sports breaks down those figures a bit further, noting that while Achane would still receive handoffs when lined up as a receiver, he was also targeted on 21 passes and caught 16 of them for 122 yards. He finished the season with 1.58 yards per route run, which is 0.6 yards more than the the league-wide average for RBs lining up somewhere other than the backfield.

It therefore stands to reason that Achane would want to continue honing his receiving abilities, especially since his size (5-9, 188) precludes him from being a bell-cow back. His explosiveness — his 7.8 yards-per-carry average is a Super Bowl-era record for any RB with at least 100 rushes — makes him a formidable weapon no matter how he gets the ball.

“He had outstanding ball production. … To find different ways to get people the ball, whether that’s different types of pass routes, whether that’s different types of run schemes that you can get comfortable with, all those things. More ways to be at the point of attack to play within this offense, that’s what this offseason really provides for him,” McDaniel said.

Achane’s other main goal this offseason was to get stronger to better withstand the physicality of the NFL. He spent time on IR last year with a knee injury, and creating opportunities for him in space on the other side of opposing defensive lines should increase his chances of remaining healthy while also allowing him and fellow RB Raheem Mostert, a dynamic back in his own right, to be on the field at the same time.

Injury Updates: Garrett, Bengals, Etienne, Dolphins

Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett likely suffered some structural damage in his left shoulder, an injury that was aggravated during last weekend’s loss. As Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes, it’s uncertain if the injury will even require surgery, and Garrett is determined to continue playing this season.

“I feel terrible,” Garrett said following Sunday’s loss to the Broncos. “Everything hurts, shoulder hurts. But we’ve got to keep on going, keep on rolling till the wheels fall off. We’re having great success and enjoying how this team is really coming together, especially down the stretch. And we’re going to continue to keep on working hard to be fresh and fit whenever we get to Sunday.”

Garrett said he felt a pop in his shoulder during the game, but he also admitted that he’s been dealing with a shoulder issue for the entire season. The injury could be attributed to the AC joint sprain Garrett suffered last season, or it could be an entirely new injury, with Cabot speculating that the pass rusher may be dealing with a partial dislocation.

The former first-overall pick is on track to earn another All-Pro nod in 2022. In 11 games, Garrett has collected 13 sacks, 23 QB hits, and 12 tackles for loss.

More injury notes from around the NFL…

  • The Bengals got some good news on both sides of the ball ahead of Monday Night Football. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Bengals wideout Tee Higgins and linebacker Logan Wilson will play against the Jaguars. Higgins has missed the past three games while dealing with a hamstring injury, while Wilson is recovering from an ankle injury suffered last weekend. Unfortunately, it’s not all good news in Cincinnati. After suffering a sprained ankle at practice this week, Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt will not play on Monday night, per Schefter.
  • On the other side, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said he’s expecting running back Travis Etienne to play on Monday night, per ESPN’s Michael DiRocco. Etienne suffered a rib injury last weekend that briefly forced him to exit the game, and he’s been practicing on a limited basis throughout the week. If he is sidelined on Monday, the Jaguars would lean on D’Ernest Johnson and rookie Tank Bigsby.
  • De’Von Achane is expected to play for the Dolphins this weekend, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. After returning from a knee injury in time for Week 11, the running back was once again sidelined with the issue for Week 12. Meanwhile, Terron Armstead said he intends to play this weekend despite suffering a quadriceps injury on Black Friday. It was initially thought that the offensive tackle could miss multiple weeks, so this is an encouraging update for the Dolphins offense.

Dolphins Activate RB De’Von Achane

The Dolphins have officially activated their electric rookie running back, De’Von Achane from injured reserve in advance of tomorrow’s matchup with the Raiders. The team announced the move along with a number of other Saturday transactions in preparation for Week 11.

The rookie back was placed on IR in Week 6, a move which guaranteed at least a month-long absence. Achane was able to return to practice earlier this week in order to be activated as soon as possible. Head coach Mike McDaniel even hinted that Achane could have continued playing through the injury with a knee brace, but the team chose to exercise caution with the health of their 22-year-old phenom.

Achane has now missed the four games required for an IR stint and will hope to pick up where he left off. Before landing on IR, Achane displayed an outstanding three-game stretch in which he accounted for 518 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns. He returns to a position group that has been anchored by Raheem Mostert in his absence, with Jeff Wilson and Salvon Ahmed serving as change of pace backs.

Miami had waived wide receiver Robbie Chosen in anticipation of Achane’s activation, but the team will bring him back on a practice squad contract and elevate him on Sunday as a standard gameday elevation. In order to make room for the veteran receiver, the Dolphins released running back Jake Funk from their practice squad. Offensive guard Chasen Hines will join Chosen as a practice squad elevation for tomorrow.

Dolphins Waive WR Robbie Chosen

NOVEMBER 17: Chosen is indeed a candidate to return to the Dolphins via a practice squad spot, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe tweets. A team claiming the veteran wide receiver by this afternoon’s deadline would nix that plan, but the Dolphins want to retain Chosen as insurance. Both Claypool and Berrios are on Miami’s injury report, pointing to a Chosen path back to the active roster for Week 11.

NOVEMBER 16: The Dolphins have already activated River Cracraft off injured reserve, adding a seventh wide receiver to their active roster. They are also moving toward having De’Von Achane back on the 53. They turned toward their skill-position corps to create an additional spot.

The team waived Robbie Chosen on Thursday. Known lately for name changes, Chosen is in his eighth NFL season. This is familiar territory for Chosen. The Cardinals, after they acquired Chosen before the 2022 trade deadline, cut bait in March. The Dolphins signed him to a one-year, $1.32MM deal this offseason.

Chosen, 30, has played in four Dolphins games as a backup; he caught one pass with the team. This move could also result in Anderson being bumped back down to Miami’s practice squad. The veteran pass catcher served as a gameday elevation at multiple points this season. Chosen would need to clear waivers first, however. Although Chosen is a vested veteran, the trade deadline having passed makes every cut player subject to waivers.

Not too far removed from signing a Panthers extension worth $29.5MM over two years, the former Robby Anderson, Robbie Anderson and Chosen Anderson has drifted away from starter status over the past two seasons. A midgame sideline dustup led the Panthers to send Chosen to the Cardinals for late-round compensation last year. This came after the team fired Matt Rhule, who had coached Chosen at Temple. Chosen, who topped 1,000 receiving yards with the Panthers in 2020, has just 21 receptions over the past two seasons.

Even if this is it for Chosen in Miami, the Dolphins have extensive experience supplementing Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. In addition to Cracraft, Braxton Berrios, Cedrick Wilson and Chase Claypool reside as tertiary targets. The team acquired Claypool last month in a late-round pick swap with the Bears. Miami designated Achane for return this week, and Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz notes the rookie speedster is expected to be activated for Week 11.

Dolphins Open RB De’Von Achane’s Practice Window

The Dolphins’ ground game could be in line for a boost as early as Week 11. Head coach Mike McDaniel announced on Monday that De’Von Achane has been designated for return from injured reserve.

The rookie back was placed on IR in Week 6, a move which guaranteed at least a month-long absence. Returning to practice as soon as possible represents a good sign for Achane’s prospects of playing against the Raiders in Miami’s next matchup. The Dolphins have 21 days to activate him to avoid having him revert to season-ending IR.

McDaniel hinted that Achane could have continued playing through his knee injury by wearing a brace, but the team understandably took a cautious approach with the 22-year-old. Achane showed considerable promise prior to being sidelined, totaling 518 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns in a span of three straight games. He will add another speed element to the team’s offense upon return, while giving Miami another option aside from Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson in the backfield.

The former has played a major role in the Dolphins’ offensive success, leading the league in yards per carry (5.6) and total touchdowns (13). The latter, meanwhile, has been used sparingly in his three games since being activated. As Miami looks to continue its elite showing in the ground game (averaging 148 rushing yards per contest), Achane will aim to pick up where he left off prior to the injury.

The Texas A&M product’s effectiveness both on the ground and thorough the air will give the Dolphins a number of capable option at the RB spot once at full strength. With both Mostert and Wilson only on the books through 2024 (and with no guaranteed money on their respective deals beyond this season), Achane could cement himself as a long-term fixture in the backfield with a strong showing in the second half of the season. Bringing him back will use up one of the Dolphins’ four remaining IR activations.

NFL Injury Updates: Giants, Achane, Ramsey, Watson

While one-game injuries are not usually worthy of mention, the Giants‘ situation at offensive line this week is a wild exception. It would be difficult to look back and find a more dire example of desperation on a depth chart. With regular starter Andrew Thomas and primary backup Matt Peart already designated out for tonight’s game against the Bills, according to Ryan Dunleavy of NY Post Sports, any other adjustments to availability could prove disastrous.

Semi-luckily for New York, the team’s other regular starter, Evan Neal, who was questionable coming into today, will be available to play tonight, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The Giants’ other projected starter will be Joshua Ezeudu, who has struggled mightily as of late. Beyond those two, Marcus McKethan is the only other tackle listed on the depth chart, while Yodny Cajuste and Jaylon Thomas sit on the practice squad but weren’t elevated for today’s game.

Things could get ugly if Neal tweaks his knee or if the offensive line faces any further adversity. Hopefully, this is only just a one-week issue that the Giants will be clear of following this week’s trip to Buffalo.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the league:

  • After a blazing hot start to his NFL career, Dolphins rookie running back De’Von Achane was placed on injured reserve this week after suffering a knee injury. Based on the league’s rules for returning from IR, Achane wouldn’t be eligible for activation from the injury list until after the team’s Week 10 bye. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, that’s exactly when Achane plans to come back. Achane’s absence isn’t expected to be any longer than necessary as Miami is expecting a Week 11 return for the 22-year-old.
  • We reported this week that Dolphins cornerbacks coach Sam Madison had faith that we may see cornerback Jalen Ramsey return from knee surgery as early as November. That opinion was confirmed today by multiple sources. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Ramsey is far ahead of schedule and that a return by Week 11, after the team’s bye week, is not out of the question, allowing the star defender to play in Miami’s final eight games of the regular season. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Ramsey could return to practice as soon as this week, cautioning that the team may still choose to ease him back in “gradually” but that an early return is becoming more and more feasible.
  • Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been week-to-week while missing the team’s last two games with a shoulder injury. While that status doesn’t really change with Schefter’s recent report that Watson could return as soon as next week, Schefter did specify that Watson is dealing with a subscapularis muscle contusion in the rotator cuff of his throwing shoulder, making it difficult for him to drive the ball down the field. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Cleveland is being “smart” with Watson, whom it views as its franchise quarterback.

Dolphins To Place De’Von Achane On IR

OCTOBER 11: Achane will indeed be placed on IR, Schefter tweets. After a blazing start to his NFL career, the third-round rookie cannot return until Week 11. Easily one of the fastest running backs in NFL history, having run 10.18 seconds in the 100-meter dash at Texas A&M, Achane has showcased that speed over the past three games. But the Dolphins will shut him down for an extended stretch. The team may soon have its 2022 duo back, however, with Mostert still healthy and Wilson close to returning from IR.

OCTOBER 10: Just as the Dolphins are set to get one member of their backfield healthy, another is facing the prospect of missed time. Rookie De’Von Achane is dealing with a knee injury which will likely sideline him for “multiple weeks,” per Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

While further evaluations are yet to be made to determine the next course of action, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that an IR stint is a possibility at this point. Placing the third-rounder on injured reserve would guarantee at least a four-week absence and interrupt what has been a promising campaign so far. Missing Achane for any length of time will deal a blow to Miami’s ground game.

The Texas A&M product only saw one carry through the first two weeks of the season, but he has taken on an increased workload since then with 35 carries in the past three contests. Achane has translated that into 455 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, including a monster performance in the Dolphins’ blowout win over the Broncos. Falling in line with the overarching offensive plan for the team, he has proven to be one of the league’s fastest skill-position players, something which has helped him average 12.1 yards per carry in his relatively limited action so far.

Miami boasts the league’s top rushing attack with an average of 186 yards per game on the ground. Missing Achane could hinder the team, but Raheem Mostert has been productive as well with at least 78 scrimmage yards in three of the past four games. The veteran could be joined by Jeff Wilson as early as this Sunday, since he is set to return to practice in advance of being activated from IR. A Mostert-Wilson tandem should be expected to continue the Dolphins’ success in the run game as a compliment to the their prowess through the air.

Miami also has Salvon Ahmed in the fold as a depth option while Achane is away. The latter has already earned a notable workload in the early part of his career, one which is expected to increase when he returns. Down the road, though, Achane could be in line for a full-time starting role as Wilson and Mostert are only under contract through 2024; neither is owed guranteed money that season, making their long-term future in South Beach something to watch. For the time being, though, that pairing will carry the load at the RB spot.

AFC East Rumors: Bills, Achane, Hall, Judon

A Bills team that is looking to win their fourth-straight division title lost a crucial piece of their defense when veteran cornerback Tre’Davious White suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon. With Christian Benford and Taron Johnson already starting so far this season, the team will be relying on backups to step up in White’s absence.

Last year’s first-round pick Kaiir Elam has been a healthy-scratch for the first four games of the season but may be forced into action now that it’s necessary. Dane Jackson was the one who saw increased snaps upon White’s departure last weekend. Siran Neal and Cameron Lewis also have an opportunity to contribute. Head coach Sean McDermott, while maintaining that the Bills have faith in the guys already in their building, didn’t rule out the potential of a free agent signing to help reinforce the group, according to The Athletic’s Tim Graham.

If Buffalo is interested in veteran options, former Broncos cornerback Chris Harris is available after coming off the practice squad for the Saints to start four games last season. Veteran free agent Casey Hayward is also available after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury last year. Either option would provide veteran, starting experience for the Bills in place of White.

Here are a few other rumors from around the AFC East, starting down in Dade County:

  • Dolphins rookie running back Devon Achane has exploded onto the scene in the past two weeks. After only registering two touches over the first two games of the season for Miami, Achane has totaled 353 total yards and six total touchdowns in the last two games alone. Needless to say, the Dolphins are looking to get the ball in Achane’s hands more often, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The only issue is that starting running back Raheem Mostert has been impressive in his own right so far this year, and the team also likes Jeff Wilson and Salvon Ahmed, who are each trying to shake off injuries. Regardless, it’s going to be tough to keep Achane off the field.
  • The Jets have been managing second-year running back Breece Hall on a limited snap count so far this season as he comes back to full strength from last year’s season-ending ACL tear. According to Schefter, head coach Robert Saleh informed the media that Hall will not be playing on a limited workload any longer. Hall’s early effectiveness, combined with the initial disappointment of the Dalvin Cook-addition, has prompted the team to increase the role of the player it views as the team’s primary rusher.
  • We knew that the serious injury to Patriots pass rusher Matt Judon would majorly impact his ability to make an impression for his next contract. Thanks to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, we have some details on how it affects him now, as well. His recent restructure presented the opportunity for Judon to make up to $3MM in incentives. Since he won’t be able to play for 75 percent of the team’s defense snaps and will likely miss the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro selection, Judon is likely to miss out on $2MM of those incentives. Additionally, he’ll be out approximately $766K in per game active roster bonuses that he wouldn’t qualify for over the rest of the year, if he can’t make a return this season.

AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Thornton

The 2019 draft produced several long-running partnerships between defensive tackles and the teams that chose them in the first round. Four of the six DTs selected in Round 1 that year signed extensions this offseason. Quinnen Williams, Ed Oliver, Dexter Lawrence and Jeffery Simmons have new deals in hand. Jerry Tillery did not work out for the Chargers, but he was the only first-round DT from the ’19 class not to negotiate an extension this offseason. Christian Wilkins spent months discussing a deal with the Dolphins, but the sides have tabled matters to 2024, when the former No. 13 overall pick will be on the cusp of free agency.

Guarantees represented a sticking point for Wilkins, but Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald offers that the Dolphins appeared to be skittish about authorizing a Williams-level deal for a player without much in the way of sack production. Wilkins’ camp undoubtedly pushed for terms in the Williams-Lawrence-Simmons-Daron Payne neighborhood ($22.5-$24MM per year), as the Clemson alum led all DTs with 98 tackles last season. Wilkins, who produced 89 tackles in 2021, has never topped 4.5 sacks in a season. He has also eclipsed seven QB hits in just one of his four NFL slates (13 in 2021). Wilkins has not requested a trade, per Jackson, and the Dolphins — despite trade interest emerging — are not interested in moving him.

The Dolphins will have the option of franchise-tagging Wilkins next year. The Commanders used the tag as a bridge to a Payne deal, but the D-tackle tag number will likely come in north of $20MM in 2024. The Dolphins are currently projected to be $27MM over the cap next year (29th in the league), though much will obviously change between now and then. Here is the latest from the AFC East:

Dolphins Place CB Jalen Ramsey, RB Jeff Wilson On IR

Jalen Ramsey is not set to make his Dolphins debut for months. With the All-Pro cornerback in the team’s plans for 2023, he needed to be placed on the 53-man roster before an IR move could commence. The latter transaction will take place Thursday morning.

Ramsey is now on IR, and running back Jeff Wilson joins him. The latter sustained a finger injury recently. The Dolphins also placed offensive lineman Robert Jones on IR and signed cornerback Justin Bethel. Wilson must miss at least four games because of this designation. Mike McDaniel said a midsection issue also led to Wilson landing on IR; the second-year coach added he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Wilson returns this season, via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. That comment does not make it sound like Wilson is a lock to come back when first eligible.

Thursday’s moves give the Dolphins three potential IR-return players. Ramsey’s knee injury required surgery, a procedure that is expected to sideline the trade acquisition until at least December. Teams can bring up to eight players off IR per season, with the NFL reintroducing a limit on such moves last year.

Wilson will begin a second season on an injured list in three years. He opened the 2021 campaign on the 49ers’ reserve/PUP list due to an offseason foot injury. Formerly playing for McDaniel in San Francisco, Wilson reunited with the former 49ers run-game coordinator via a deadline-day trade last year. The veteran running back joined fellow ex-49er Raheem Mostert in re-signing with the Dolphins this offseason. Both stayed on one-year deals. The Dolphins also reupped Myles Gaskin in March, but after a release Tuesday, the fifth-year back signed with the Vikings.

Miami kept five halfbacks on its active roster. Wilson’s injury looks to have factored into that decision. Mostert, third-round pick Devon Achane, Salvon Ahmed and rookie UDFA Chris Brooks comprise the Dolphins’ group of available backs to start the season. Wilson, 27, hit the ground running in Miami last year. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry, gaining 368 and totaling three touchdowns in eight games with the Dolphins.

This injury opens the door for an early-season Achane workload, though the Texas A&M product is also dealing with an injury. Achane is not a lock to start the season on time, per McDaniel (via Jackson). Despite only coming into the draft with four selections, Miami used one on a running back. The Dolphins have also scoured the trade market and free agency for available standouts. After being connected to Dalvin Cook for months, the team went back and forth in negotiations with the Colts on Jonathan Taylor. Although no deal commenced — due in part to the Dolphins viewing the Colts’ ask as exorbitant, as one Indianapolis proposal included Jaylen Waddle — the parties can reconnect in talks ahead of the October 31 trade deadline.

Bethel, 33, re-signed with the Dolphins in March and was among the veterans the team released on cutdown day. Miami continues to have the ace special-teamer in its plans, however.