Ollie Gordon II used Week 4 to make a real case for a bigger role in the Dolphins’ backfield.
Miami had handed the starting job to Jaylen Wright, with Gordon moving back into a backup role after stepping in the week before when De’Von Achane got hurt. But against a very good Vikings defense, Gordon was the runner who kept stacking positive plays and eventually broke through for his first career 100-yard rushing game.
The Dolphins needed somebody in that group to answer the call with Achane sidelined, and Gordon did it with a physical style that showed up on the inside runs. He kept churning out tough yards and looked like the back best equipped to handle the load. Wright, to be fair, is coming off a foot injury and may not have been at full strength, but Gordon’s performance was the loudest argument Miami has heard yet for making him the top option going forward.
There was also enough pop in the performance to remind the Dolphins what Gordon can bring even without elite breakaway speed. He ripped off a 53-yard run on Sunday, only to be chased down from behind. He’s not a burner, but he’s hardly plodding either.
Gordon also delivered in the biggest moment Miami could ask for from its third-team back, scoring a second-half touchdown that cut the deficit to two points at the time.
A lot of Gordon’s best work came running to the left, where Patrick Paul and Kadyn Proctor line up. Miami’s offensive front helped him stay on the move and kept the Vikings’ blitz-heavy approach from blowing up every snap.
The Dolphins still came away with a Week 4 loss, and the bigger offensive issues aren’t going away just because Gordon had a strong day. Miami is also dealing with the absence of Achane and Caleb Douglas, who missed his second straight game, and that has made it tougher to find any rhythm.
Even so, Gordon gave the Dolphins something concrete to build on. He also gave them a stronger sense that the running back room may be deeper than it first looked.
As a team, Miami ran for 121 yards. Malik Willis accounted for 11 of those. Wright finished with five carries for seven yards, a rough 1.4 yards per carry, while Carlos Washington did not get a rush after being signed to the 53-man roster on Saturday.
In Other News...
Malik Willis Just Became The Dolphins' Biggest Question
The Dolphins are 0-4 after the loss to Minnesota, and the early season has only sharpened the questions around a roster that has shown some developmental progress even as the results keep sliding the wrong way. For a team trying to find traction, the quarterback conversation has quickly moved to the center of everything, with every week bringing a little more scrutiny to how the offense is being steered.
Malik Willis, signed this offseason as a free agent, is now at the heart of the discussion about where Miami goes next. The evaluation is no longer just about short-term steadiness or flashes in isolated moments - it is turning into a much bigger debate over whether he can be the franchise quarterback moving forward, and the next stretch will carry plenty of weight for how that answer takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Tyreek Hills Next Move Could Hit Dolphins Fans Hard
Tyreek Hills recovery has become one of the more closely watched NFL storylines for Dolphins fans, and the calendar now points toward a possible November return. The veteran receiver is working back from the serious knee injury he suffered while playing for Miami, a setback that ended his season and changed the outlook around his future. He was released by the Dolphins in February 2026 while still rehabbing, leaving his next step tied entirely to how he progresses physically.
Kansas City is already being mentioned as a landing spot once Hill is healthy, which gives the situation an especially familiar twist for both the player and the teams involved. Sources say the Chiefs have strong interest in a reunion, and several current players are reportedly on board with the idea, adding another layer to a comeback that could reshape the late-season market. For Miami, it is a reminder that Hills next move may not just be about football health, but about where one of the leagues most recognizable playmakers chooses to finish his return. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Showed Promise In Another Loss But One Problem Wont Go Away
The Dolphins Week 4 loss was another frustrating result on the scoreboard, but it also offered a glimpse of a defense and supporting cast trying to hold things together through a wave of absences. Rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez stood out with 18 tackles, the most by any Miami player in a game this season, while Ollie Gordon and Zach Sieler also turned in noteworthy efforts as the team searched for answers in a 15-10 defeat.
Still, the encouraging signs were hard to separate from the familiar problems that keep surfacing. Jason Marshall and Austin Jackson had rough stretches, and the special teams unit again created too many issues for a team that cant afford extra mistakes. Miami can point to the effort and some individual progress, but until one persistent area gets cleaned up, close games are likely to keep slipping away. [Read more 🡒]