Pro Bowl running back De'Von Achane tears ACL in Week 3, leaving Miami's backfield depleted
De'Von Achane, a $64 million extension and 2025 Pro Bowler, tears his ACL in the first quarter of Miami's loss to Kansas City and is out for the season.
De'Von Achane tore his ACL in the first quarter of Miami's 24-10 loss to Kansas City on 27 September and is out for the 2026 season, per ESPN and CBS Sports. The Dolphins' Pro Bowl running back, months into a four-year, $64 million extension, leaves Miami's backfield in crisis mid-season.
The weight of what Miami loses
Achane was supposed to be the engine of this Dolphins offence. The running back was named to the AFC Pro Bowl for the 2025 season, per ESPN, a campaign in which he rushed for 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns on 238 carries and added 67 receptions for 488 yards and four scores. Just days before the injury, coach Jeff Hafley told Yahoo Sports that Achane could see 40-plus touches in some games this season—a volume that would have made him central to Miami's attack on both the ground and through the air.
The extension that tied him to Miami was signed in the offseason, per ESPN, and is worth $64 million, a deal that ranks Achane among the league's better-paid running backs. Through three games of the 2026 season, he carried 34 times for 127 yards and caught seven passes for 49 yards, per CBS Sports. In Week 3 against Kansas City, before the injury, he had three carries for 17 yards. The production through three games was modest, but the season was young and the offensive workload was expanding.
Hafley spoke after the loss with a mixture of concern and hope. Per ESPN, he said: "My heart breaks for him but at the same time, I know that he'll be back and he'll be back strong." In the immediate aftermath, Hafley was more cautious, telling CBS Sports: "To be very honest with you, it does not sound very optimistic at this moment, but I can't give you any other details until I have them."
| Season | Rushes | Rushing yards | Rushing TDs | Receptions | Receiving yards | Receiving TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 238 | 1,350 | 8 | 67 | 488 | 4 |
| 2026 (through Week 3) | 34 | 127 | 0 | 7 | 49 | 0 |
Backfield in crisis
On 28 September, Miami placed Achane on injured reserve, per Yahoo Sports, formally ending his season. The placement exposed the Dolphins' thin running back depth. Ollie Gordon II, the backup, suffered cramps during the same game against Kansas City, leaving him compromised, per NFL.com. Jaylen Wright, another option, has been dealing with a stinger and a foot injury, per Yahoo Sports.
No new running back signing had been reported as of 28 September, per Yahoo Sports, leaving the Dolphins reliant on the players already on the roster. The day Achane hit injured reserve, Miami also waived defensive lineman Keith Cooper Jr. and released edge rusher Clelin Ferrell and defensive lineman Jordan Miller from the practice squad, per Yahoo Sports. The moves suggest a team reshaping its roster under pressure, clearing depth at some positions even as it scrambles to fill a critical gap in the backfield.
What comes next
An ACL tear ends a player's season and often extends into the following year. For Achane, the injury arrives with Miami's offence in its infancy—only three games into a season in which the 2025 Pro Bowler was to be a focal point of the attack. The Dolphins must now move quickly to address a backfield that was already short on depth and complementary options before the injury. How the team responds—whether through waivers, trades, or free agency—and how rapidly it can find stability at the position will help shape what remains of the 2026 season.