When a talented player suffers a season-ending injury, you’ll often hear coaches talk about adopting a “next-man-up mentality” and the opportunities available to the others in the position room. We saw that when the Dolphins’ All-Pro running back De’Von Achane tore his ACL against the Chiefs in Week 3, and everyone’s attention went to Ollie Gordon and Jaylen Wright.
For the Dolphins, though, replacing Achane isn’t simply about replacing carries – it’s also about replacing explosiveness from arguably
the most talented player on the team. And no player on Miami’s roster may be better suited for that challenge than Malik Washington.
The Challenge Isn’t Just Replacing Carries
When people think about Achane, they naturally think about his rushing production. But that’s only part of the story.
Achane created problems for defenses because he could line up anywhere and threaten a defense in multiple ways. He could run between the tackles, catch passes out of the backfield, motion across the formation, or turn a simple touch into a chunk play. He forced defenses to account for him before and after the snap.
Replacing him won’t be as simple as handing the ball to another running back. The Dolphins need someone who can create offense in space, be moved around the formation and force defensive coordinators to adjust.
That’s where Washington enters the conversation.
More Than a Gadget Player
One of the biggest misconceptions about Washington is that he is simply a gadget receiver. Under Mike McDaniel, much of his role fit that description. Screens, jet sweeps, reverses and return opportunities were often the easiest ways to get the ball in his hands.
But that role never fully reflected the player he was coming out of college. At Virginia in 2023, Washington set single-season school records with 110 receptions and 1,426 receiving yards. He wasn’t a possession receiver whose job was simply catching short passes and moving the chains. He was a volume playmaker whose game was built on creating yards after the catch and making defenders miss in space.
Entering this season, one of the biggest questions surrounding Washington was whether he would have an opportunity to show more of his complete skill set. Through three games, he has already caught 12 passes for 152 yards, averaging 12.7 yards per reception. Just as importantly, coaches have spent months praising his development as a complete receiver. Back in August, when head coach Jeff Hafley was asked what had impressed him most about Washington’s development, he pointed to growth that went beyond manufactured touches:
“Just his overall route running. … I think a lot of people might think of him as a bubble guy, a catch and run guy, a quick screen guy, a get him the ball on a hitch and let him run. Just him at the top of the routes and I think him really trying to master the route tree and the techniques that are being asked to do, and just his overall consistency of how he approaches every day.”
Washington’s Versatility Makes Him Unique
What makes Washington uniquely suited for an expanded role is less about elite speed or production, but his versatility. The Dolphins can line him up at all three receiver spots. They can motion him into the backfield. They can hand him the football, as they did twice against the Chiefs. They can use him as a returner. They can manufacture touches in space.
Few players on Miami’s roster offer that kind of flexibility. And Washington himself seems to understand that. When asked this week how many positions he can play, he responded, “I think I could play a lot, man. I still throw the ball. I still keep my arm warm just in case, so I’m prepared for whatever.” The more ways a coaching staff can deploy a player, the harder he becomes to defend.
The Opportunity Is Already There
The coaching staff has acknowledged Washington’s ability to contribute in multiple roles. Speaking after Sunday’s game,Jeff Hafley noted that Washington stepped into a role the offense already had available for him.
“Malik Washington, I told you guys yesterday that’s a role that Bobby’s had plays in for him and he did a nice job stepping up.”
Washington wasn’t viewed as an emergency option when injuries hit the backfield. The offense already had concepts available for him in those situations. Now, with Achane out for the season, Miami has an opportunity to explore that versatility even further.
Replacing Impact, Not Carries
The Dolphins remain committed to being a run-first football team, and Jeff Hafley made it clear this week that philosophy is not changing. Washington is not likely going to line up as running back for 20 carries a game. Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon will have important roles to play moving forward.
But as much as the Dolphins will need backs to absorb carries, they will also need someone capable of providing the creativity, unpredictability and explosiveness that disappeared when Achane went down. Malik Washington may not replace Achane, but he might be the player best equipped to help Miami replace what Achane brought to it.
