MIAMI GARDENS — Look for Miami’s run game to be near its season best this week at Washington. The numbers say that’ll be the case. But it’s not the statistical numbers that say that, it’s the number of healthy running backs the Dolphins could have at their disposal.
Rookie running back De’Von Achane (knee) will be available and active for this week’s game at Washington, according to coach Mike McDaniel. If rookie Chris Brooks (knee), who is questionable and still on the injured reserve list, is also available the Dolphins would have their top four running backs – Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Achane, and Brooks – in uniform together for the first time this season.
Miami, which is No. 2 in the league in rushing at 145.2 yards per game and rushed for a franchise-best 350 yards earlier this year against Denver, could carry all five running backs on its 53-man roster on Sunday’s active gameday roster if you include fullback Alec Ingold.
The key there is that the Dolphins, who struggle in short yardage, would seem to have a running back to fit all situations.
“It just makes us more versatile, more dangerous, more unpredictable,” left tackle Terron Armstead said. “It can only be a benefit.”
Mostert (second in the league in rushing with 785 yards) brings speed, big-play ability and flashes of power from time to time.
Achane (11.8 yards per carry) brings speed and big-play ability.
Wilson (4.7 yards per carry) brings slashing ability with some power.
Brooks (94 yards on 15 carries, 6.3 yards per carry), who weighs in at 223 pounds, brings power for short-yardage situations as does Ingold with his blocking ability.
Speedy running back Salvon Ahmed went on injured reserve last week with a foot injury.
Getting Achane back will be huge. The rookie had an exciting four-game stretch in which he rushed for 460 yards, then he sustained a knee injury that sidelined him for four games, he returned for the Las Vegas game and had a yard on one carry (and one reception for 4 yards) before re-injuring the same knee.
“I wasn’t confident I could go back out there and keep playing,” he said of the injury against the Raiders.
Achane said the injury didn’t cause a lot of pain or a lack of mobility.
“It was me getting my confidence back up and knowing I could go out there and give 100%,” he said. “I wanted to get it to 100%.”
The Dolphins’ ability to run the ball effectively, and physically the last two games, while being led by Mostert hasn’t gone unnoticed by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a major benefactor.
“We’re getting a lot of points down this stretch off of our runs, which definitely helps in trying to control the game where you can run on first down, second down, you can get third-and-manageable, and you can go from there,” Tagovailoa said.
“Then for us, to be able to sustain drives while running the ball and not always passing, it allows us to go off our (play) action game and things like that.”
The Dolphins have had three of their top four running backs active twice this season, at New England and at Buffalo. They rushed for 145 yards at New England in a 24-17 victory and 142 yards at Buffalo in a 48-20 loss.
But having a full complement of running backs could make a big difference now that it’s December, which means cold-weather football for many road games. And it’s on the verge of January, which means playoff football and a heightened need for offensive versatility and a run game.
The Dolphins may not need the extra run-game firepower against the Commanders. Washington is 17th in rushing defense, allowing 113.1 yards per game.
Considering that, there’s no rush to bring Brooks back this week. Miami opened his 21-day window to return on Monday. He can be activated at any time. If he’s not activated by the end of the 21-day window he’s ineligible to return this season.
One thing that could help Brooks be activated when ready is he’s a core special teams player. That could give him an edge over someone who doesn’t play special teams.
“Whenever you’re going through roster decisions for each position, you’re weighing all the factors that play in,” offensive coordinator Frank Smith said, later adding, “Each game has a different need, and what are the needs at the position groups? What’s the need in special teams? Who fills what role?”
Achane said he thinks having a full complement of running backs available makes the Dolphins much tougher to defend.
“We all can go out there and perform and be productive,” he said. “It makes it hard for the defense to game plan on one or two running backs.”
