De'Von Achane’s afternoon in Kansas City ended in a way that should have Dolphins fans bracing for bad news.
Miami hung around longer than plenty of people expected in its 24-10 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday, but the bigger storyline came when Achane was forced out in the first half with a knee injury and never came back. After the game, coach Jeff Hafley’s tone did little to calm anyone down.
"To be honest with you, it does not sound optimistic," the first-year coach told reporters after the 24-10 defeat.
Achane had been walking off in pain after the injury, and by the time the game moved on, he was done for the day. He later returned to the sideline in street clothes, a tough sign for a Miami offense that already struggled to function without him.
The backfield workload shifted mostly to Ollie Gordon II, who was held in check by Kansas City and finished with 41 yards on 17 carries. Miami’s defense kept the game respectable, but the offense couldn’t generate enough to make up for losing its top runner.
If Achane ends up missing significant time, or worse, the rest of the season, Jaylen Wright would be in line to take over as Miami’s lead back once he’s healthy from an injury of his own.
The injury itself came after Achane’s legs twisted awkwardly following a grab at his face by Chiefs safety Alohi Gilman.
Achane was eventually seen leaving the blue tent and heading to the locker room.
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Commanders coach Dan Quinn later said Chenal has feeling in his extremities and is undergoing further testing at the hospital, which offered at least some initial relief after a frightening scene. For Chiefs fans who watched Chenal develop into a reliable piece of their defense, the update is hard to process, and it leaves Washington waiting for more clarity on a player they invested in with a three-year deal. [Read more 🡒]
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Chiefs Just Got Dragged Into Another Officiating Firestorm
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For the Chiefs, it is the kind of controversy that has started to follow them even when the football itself is only part of the conversation. Any play like this feeds a larger debate around perceived officiating favoritism, and the reaction was immediate enough to ensure the clip would keep circulating well after the game ended. Whether the league or officials address it directly is one thing, but the bigger issue is that these moments now arrive with built-in suspicion attached. [Read more 🡒]