It's a tough break for the Miami Dolphins and running back Alexander Mattison, who is officially out for the rest of the season following a neck injury during a preseason bout against the Chicago Bears. Mattison, who had signed a one-year contract with the Dolphins, was hoping to add depth to the team's roster but will now spend the season recovering from surgery. In a game that saw him make a promising 21-yard catch, the situation took a turn for the worse when a tackle led to an ambulance ride and an abrupt end to his playing year.
The injury occurred during the fourth quarter, which led Mattison to quickly be carted off to a local hospital for treatment. The subsequent surgery promises to sideline him for the entirety of the 2025 NFL season. According to The Palm Beach Post, despite this setback, full recovery is expected and Mattison reportedly has full strength and motion. That's a small consolation for the Dolphins, who were to likely heavily utilize the veteran as a second-string running back behind De'Von Achane.
Mattison, a Boise State alumnus and third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, previously spent time with the Minnesota Vikings and the Las Vegas Raiders. His career stats include rushing for 2,790 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns—a track record promising enough to get Miami fans excited, at least until Sunday's game at Soldier Field cut that anticipation short. The running back was making his mark in Dolphins camp, as reported by CBS News Miami, entering the preseason as a seemingly valuable asset for the team.
Despite walking off the field under his own power and offering an optimistic thumbs-up post-collision, Mattison had to ultimately succumb to the severity of his condition. He'd finished the game with three rushes for eight yards and one reception before getting tackled by Bears defensive back Alex Cook, which sadly resulted to this unforeseen hiatus. Throughout the offseason and early preseason, Mattison had been showing that he could add a vital layer to the Dolphin's running game. Now, Miami will have to adapt to his absence and reassess their strategy without him in the backfield.
