MIAMI GARDENS — The news on a knee injury to Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane, while not definitive, was about as bleak as it gets.
“To be very honest with you, it does not sound very optimistic at this moment,” coach Jeff Hafley said moments after a 24-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Miami’s home opener Sunday, Sept. 27.
Hafley expected to share more details Monday, but barring an unexpected turn, it would mean the Dolphins would have to move on without their top threat, a dual-purpose back rated as the 26th-best player in the league in a poll of his peers.
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Achane, two weeks shy of his 25th birthday, left after being tackled by safety Alohi Gilman following an 11-yard run only five offensive snaps
into the game.
Achane had taken a pitchout from quarterback Malik Willis and scooted around left end before being eventually met in the open field. Gilman awkwardly flailed at Achane’s helmet to tackle him while avoiding a facemask penalty. The impact forced Achane to twist as he fell, although there was no immediate sign that his right knee had undergone extreme stress.
Even in the moments that followed, there was little indication of the possible severity of the injury. Achane walked off with trainers slowly but with only a minor limp. He soon exited the field to undergo further examination but was seen on the sidelines in the second half in a partial uniform, at times looking upbeat as he conversed with teammates.
Hafley’s brief announcement, however, quickly changed the mood at Hard Rock Stadium, where the team could only hope that follow-up tests show the damage isn’t as serious as feared.
“I’m still gathering information,” Hafley said.
Teammates seemed to be bracing for bad news.
"Definitely praying for Achane," right tackle Austin Jackson said. "Hoping it's nothing serious - too serious, I should say."
Guard Kadyn Proctor said, "Just condolences to him and hope he can get back. That's a special player. We need him to win games."
De'Von Achane missed six games his rookie season with knee injury
Achane missed six games as a rookie, when he endured a stint on injured reserve with a knee injury, but still produced 800 rushing yards and a 7.3 average to announce to the league that the Dolphins had an exceptional talent. Achane remained healthy in the two seasons since, playing every game in 2024 (with 907 rushing yards) before making the Pro Bowl last season, appearing in 16 games and rushing for 1,350 yards. He was named the team’s MVP.
Achane’s injury was compounded by the Dolphins already entering the Kansas City game without his backup, Jaylen Wright, who had a stinger and a foot injury. That left Miami with third-stringer Ollie Gordon II to carry the load and for receiver Malik Washington to serve as his backup. Gordon, a power back, had a career-high 17 carries for 41 yards and three receptions for 14, although he too briefly left the game in the second half because of cramps.
“We go through all this at practice and we get all the reps,” Gordon said. “So going into the game, you’ve just always got to have that next-man-up mentality and be ready to go whenever your number is called.”
Willis finished as the Dolphins’ leading rusher with nine carries for 56 yards. He said the fact that the Dolphins entered the fourth quarter down by only four points against the unbeaten Chiefs is a testament to what Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan are building.
“I think that’s the thing we’re just trying to build here, as far as building the foundation with Haf and Sully and everybody else,” Willis said. “We’re all together, right? So one person goes down, it shouldn’t be a drop-off. It shouldn’t be anything like that. It should be next person steps up. We’ve got to communicate and continue to build and grow.”
Willis suggested that he didn’t need to speak up in the huddle so teammates would refocus after losing their top threat.
“Those guys are wired the right way,” he said. “I think that, whether I said something or not, they would be on it. But I think Achane coming back out there and chopping it up with everybody else helped as well and let us know ‘I’m all good’ and this and that. Obviously, we’ve got to keep playing ball. It’s like it doesn’t stop for one person.”
Hal Habib covers the Miami Dolphins for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at HHabib@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins not optimistic on knee injury to De'Von Achane
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