MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane now faces health questions again, fresh off a return from injured reserve.
In Sunday’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the rookie hurt the same knee he injured Oct. 8 against the New York Giants, which caused him to miss the next four games while on IR.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel had a positive update on the speedy rusher Monday, but one that still left much up in the air regarding Achane’s status before traveling to face the New York Jets for a Friday game.
“He was feeling better this morning,” McDaniel said. “We found out that it was the same knee. It’s not going to require surgery or anything, and we’re just getting extra feedback and opinions on that. We’ll be taking that day by day this week.”
McDaniel was noncommittal about whether Achane can play against the Jets, with the short week creating another hurdle in that challenge.
“There is a chance that he will or he won’t,” McDaniel said. “It’s pretty much day to day, but I would definitely not rule it out but definitely not rule it in either. We’re just fresh off of a game, and we have a short week, so it just kind of compounds the variables, but we’ll take it a day at a time and see how it progresses.”
Achane lasted just three snaps in his first game back from missing the minimum four games on injured reserve with the ailing knee.
He started and took a carry on the Dolphins’ first offensive play for a 1-yard gain. His second touch was a 4-yard catch on which the aggravation occurred.
McDaniel said after the game Achane was pleading to re-enter, but the team decided to protect the young standout after he just tweaked the same knee already bothering him.
Achane is averaging 11.8 yards per carry, with 461 rushing yards on 39 attempts this season. The rookie sensation has seven total touchdowns, essentially only seeing significant action in three of his five games played.
Sunday against the Raiders, veteran running back Raheem Mostert took a regular season career-high 22 carries for 86 yards.
With Achane sidelined, Salvon Ahmed became Mostert’s primary backfield mate against Las Vegas. He had a receiving touchdown among three catches for 25 yards and also carried three times for 6 yards. Ahmed missed time Sunday being evaluated for a concussion, but he was cleared, although he did not return.
The Dolphins also would’ve had Jeff Wilson Jr. as another running back option, but he was a healthy scratch Sunday.
“It wasn’t because I didn’t want him up. Definitely did,” McDaniel said of the difficult decision.
He called it a numbers crunch, prioritizing keeping a fifth wide receiver active on game day over a fourth tailback, given the greater likelihood of that player seeing action.
It’s also not out of the question the Dolphins could work undrafted rookie running back Chris Brooks back onto the active roster, as he has been on injured reserve with an ankle injury. McDaniel said Monday it’s under consideration.
The team has used six of its eight designations to return off IR or the non-football injury list this season. The designation is triggered once a player on either list returns to practice.
