MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — De'Von Achane is hurt, and the Miami Dolphins are bracing for bad news.
Achane — the Dolphins' most important offensive player — suffered a knee injury in the first quarter of Miami's 24-10 loss to Kansas City on Sunday. The Dolphins were unsure on the severity after the game, though coach Jeff Hafley sounded grim based on preliminary testing.
“Still gathering information and hopefully I’ll have more for you tomorrow,” Hafley
said after the game. “To be very honest with you, it does not sound optimistic at this moment. But I can’t give you any other details until I have them.”
Hafley wouldn't speculate on what Achane missing any time might mean going forward.
Achane — who agreed to a four-year, $64 million extension earlier this year with $32 million guaranteed — is generally considered to be a huge part of the Dolphins’ plans in their current rebuilding phase. He’s seventh on the team’s all-time rushing list despite playing only 47 games and led the NFL with an average of 5.7 yards per carry last season.
Achane was either the ballcarrier or intended receiver on four of Miami’s first five plays Sunday before getting hurt. He suffered the injury on what was an 11-yard run to the left side.
Achane got up quickly after the tackle on the play where he got injured, then simply stood still while flanked by a couple of teammates. He eventually walked to the Miami sideline under his own power, albeit slowly and appearing to favor his left leg before going into the team’s injury tent.
He was further checked in the locker room, then was ruled out. Achane returned to the sideline in the second half, standing with teammates.
Ollie Gordon replaced Achane and had a career-high 14 carries by the midpoint of the third quarter, before he also had to leave the game because of what the Dolphins said was a cramping issue. Gordon was the only other running back the Dolphins had on their active roster Sunday.
Wide receiver Malik Washington had a carry in the fourth quarter before Gordon returned to the game.
“You've just always got to have that next-man-up mentality and be ready to go,” Gordon said.
Achane rushed for a career-high 1,350 yards on 238 carries in 2025. He had eight rushing touchdowns and four receiving scores a year ago and ranked fourth among running backs with 488 yards receiving.
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