Heading into the 2026 NFL season, the Miami Dolphins are looking a lot different on offense.
Mike McDaniel is gone. So are Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. That leaves De’Von Achane as one of the few familiar pieces still standing, and he’s entering training camp as the clear centerpiece of what Miami wants to do on offense.
Achane, now 24, is coming off his first 1,000-yard season and a Pro Bowl selection, and he doesn’t sound rattled by the turnover around him. When asked about new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, he put the change in simple terms.
“The only difference is the voice,” Achane said when asked about new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
“Whatever he calls, I’m going to run it. He wants us to be more of a running team, and I’m okay with that.”
That mindset fits the way Achane has played since entering the league. The former third-round pick burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2023, piling up 203 yards and four total touchdowns in Miami’s famous 70-20 win over the Denver Broncos. Last season, he took another step, leading the NFL with 5.7 yards-per-carry while finishing with 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns.
His 200-yard game also put him in a very specific spot in Dolphins history: he was the first Miami player to rush for 200 yards in a game since Jay Ajayi in 2016.
That’s the hook for today’s quiz: can you name the last 200-yard rusher for every NFL franchise?
In Other News...
Dolphins First Padded Practice Raised Real Questions Up Front
The Dolphins got into pads for the first time in training camp, and the session had the feel of an early measuring stick for both sides of the ball. Miami worked through one-on-one drills but skipped 7-on-7 periods, giving the first real glimpse of how the lines would hold up once contact picked up. Cornerback Ethan Bonner stood out with an interception and tight coverage, while Malik Willis put together a strong passing day as the team sorted through the opening physical tests.
Up front, the review was less tidy. The offensive line showed mixed results, which is exactly the kind of thing that gets more attention once the pads come on, and the absences also mattered with Greg Dulcich and Jamaree Salyer out. Austin Jackson was limited because of injury, leaving the Dolphins with more questions than answers about how settled they are across the front as camp begins to turn from installation to evaluation. [Read more 🡒]
Christian Wilkins Still Looms Over A Bigger Dolphins Question
Clelin Ferrells arrival in Miami brought an immediate reminder of how much Christian Wilkins meant to some of the players who passed through the locker room with him. Ferrell pointed to his former college teammate as a positive influence in his own decision to join the Dolphins, a small but telling note about the kind of presence Wilkins had during his five seasons in Miami before heading to Las Vegas.
Now Wilkins is back on the market, though the conversation around him is much bigger than simple free agency. He has not played in nearly two years, and after a contract dispute with the Raiders, his NFL future is far from settled. Ferrell said he hopes Wilkins draws interest somewhere, but for now the more important question is whether a player who once felt like a foundational piece can actually find his way back onto a field. [Read more 🡒]
Malik Willis Gives Dolphins Fans An Early Reason To Stay Patient
Malik Willis is still in the early stages of settling in with the Dolphins, and the first four practices of training camp have offered a little bit of everything. The new quarterback has flashed enough to show why Miami wanted to take a look, but the staff has kept the emphasis on his passing fundamentals while he gets accustomed to the playbook, the timing and the new faces around him.
For now, the job is less about highlight plays and more about steady progress, which is why the coming weeks matter so much. Willis is still working through that pocket-passing focus as he develops chemistry with teammates, including rookie Caleb Douglas, and the sense around camp is that he is improving without quite being where the Dolphins want him yet. The preseason should provide a better read on how far he can come. [Read more 🡒]