The Dolphins have been turning over the back end of their running back room ever since De'Von Achane went down with a torn ACL in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Ollie Gordon II has handled the bulk of the work, Jaylen Wright has mixed in, and Carlos Washington Jr. has bounced between the 53-man roster and the practice squad. Jarquez Hunter was also in the mix before being released.
Then, right before Week 5, Miami added another name. The team claimed former Washington Commanders running back Kaytron Allen off waivers, though the timing was too tight for him to get on the field against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Dolphins then had a bye in Week 6, so Allen still hasn’t made his debut for Miami.
On Monday, head coach Jeff Hafley broke down why the team wanted him despite already having several backs in the building.
"Kaytron, he's physical," Hafley said. "We saw him firsthand when we played against Washington and practiced against Washington.
He had a really successful career at Penn State. He ran for a ton of yards and had a lot of success there.
When he became available, Sully and I talked, and it was a guy that we were excited about. He's young, he's only a rookie.
I remember him in the draft process. Getting to see him live against Washington when we played them certainly helped.
I'm excited to see what he can do."
Allen arrives with plenty of production on his résumé. The 23-year-old ran for 4,180 yards and 39 touchdowns at Penn State, averaging 5.4 yards per carry, and he was honored once with All-Big Ten and All-American recognition.
Miami also already got a taste of what Allen can do. In their preseason meeting, he rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins. His regular-season numbers were quieter, with 41 yards on 3.4 yards per carry.
With Wright also dealing with an injury, Allen could be called on to back up Gordon on Sunday, which could give Miami its first real look at its newest addition sooner rather than later.
In Other News...
Dolphins Passing Game Puts Malik Willis Under Early AFC East Pressure
The Dolphins returned from their Week 6 off weekend with a familiar checklist waiting for them before Sundays game against the Jets. Miami is still searching for its first win and has yet to play a division game this season, which only adds weight to a Week 7 matchup that already feels important in the bigger AFC East picture. With the roster leaning on rookies and second-year players as part of a broader rebuild, the passing game has become one of the clearest gauges of whether this group is moving forward.
The problem, though, is that the offense has not yet given Miami much to build on. The passing attack has been uneven, and the pressure is landing on a quarterback who has to show more growth while the coaching staff and skill players do their part around him. For a team trying to stabilize itself early in the season, the next step is not just about execution against New York, but about whether the Dolphins can start getting cleaner answers from the same unit that has made life harder than it should be. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Could Need Caleb Douglas Sooner Than Expected Against The Jets
Caleb Douglas is set to get back on the field Monday, giving the Dolphins a chance to see how quickly the rookie wide receiver can ramp up after the ankle injury that has kept him out since the game against the San Francisco 49ers. Miami has needed to juggle its receiver depth while Douglas has been sidelined, and his return to practice at least opens the door for him to rejoin the mix before long.
Jeff Hafley said Douglas will be limited at first, which means this week will be more about tracking his progress than making any immediate assumptions about his availability. For a Dolphins offense that can use every healthy option it can get, Douglas's return timeline is now one of the quieter but still important storylines to watch as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Former Dolphins Coach Mike McDaniel Is Running Out Of Time In LA
The Chargers have spent most of this season searching for a spark on offense, and the results have been hard to ignore. At 15 points per game, the unit has struggled to find any real rhythm, which has put former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel under a harsher spotlight as the losses and frustration have piled up in Los Angeles.
Around the league, the chatter has only intensified about McDaniels status, with reports suggesting his departure is expected even though nothing has been made official yet. If the change does come, it could trigger a familiar setup in L.A., with Jim Harbaugh potentially resuming play-calling duties and Adam Gase already surfacing as a possible offensive coordinator name to watch. [Read more 🡒]