De’Von Achane will have a vital role in the Miami Dolphins' offense after signing a four-year, $64 million extension.
But the Dolphins plan to reduce his workload by giving other running backs more opportunities.
With the way Jaylen Wright has performed throughout training camp, he could be first in line to earn more playing time. Miami Herald columnist Omar Kelly named Wright one of the players whose stock is rising after the Dolphins' seventh training camp practice.
"Jaylen Wright has put together a series of good practices, showcasing the explosive first step that motivated the Dolphins to select the former Tennessee standout in the fourth round of the 2024 Draft," Kelly wrote. "Wright, who had a troublesome training camp last year that was capped by a knee injury, delivered a couple of first-down runs during Thursday's non-padded practice. His strong early camp showing should keep him ahead of Ollie Gordon II in the battle to determine who De’Von Achane's primary backup is."
Wright could be in line to have the best season of his career
Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Miami traded a future third-round pick to move up and select Wright in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, he has rushed for just 537 yards while averaging 3.9 yards per carry over his first two seasons.
Wright is competing with Ollie Gordon II for the No. 2 running back role behind Achane. Last season, Gordon eventually passed Wright on the depth chart despite Wright being healthy for multiple games.
Under coach Jeff Hafley, the Dolphins want to establish a physical ground game built on toughness. That marks a departure from the Mike McDaniel era, when the offense relied on finesse running schemes to complement an explosive passing attack.
Wright brings a different skill set than Achane and Gordon. He combines speed with explosiveness, thrives when attacking open lanes, and can bounce runs outside to create big plays.
If Wright continues his strong training camp, he has a chance to earn a larger workload and become the Dolphins' first running back off the bench when Achane needs a breather.
