De'Von Achane's breakout season with the Miami Dolphins is over. The running back went down in the first quarter of Miami's 24-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, and further testing reportedly revealed the torn ligament.
How the Injury Unfolded
Achane had been Miami's offensive focal point in the opening minutes, serving as either the intended receiver or ballcarrier on four of the team's first five plays before he went down, according to CBS Sports. First-year head coach Jeff Hafley told reporters after the game that early medical indications were “not very optimistic,” a grim preview of the serious knee injury, per NBC Sports. Reports said Achane is out for the season, according to CBS News Miami; Hafley said he was still gathering additional information on the injury.
The timing stings for a franchise that made Achane a centerpiece of its future just months earlier. In May, he signed a four-year, $64 million contract extension carrying $32 million in guarantees and up to $68 million in total potential incentives, the station's report notes. The contract covers the 2027–2030 contract years.
A Breakout Year Cut Short
Achane was coming off a Pro Bowl campaign in 2025 that made the extension look like an easy call at the time. He led the NFL with 5.7 yards per carry while rushing for 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns, adding 67 receptions for 488 yards and four more scores through the air, per the same account. Across 47 career games and 39 starts since Miami drafted him in the third round in 2023, Achane has piled up 3,184 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns, good for seventh on the franchise's all-time rushing list.
Backfield Depth Stretched Thin
Achane's exit left Miami dangerously thin at running back for the remainder of Sunday's game. Backup Jaylen Wright was already inactive with foot and stinger injuries, forcing rookie Ollie Gordon II into duty as the team's only active back, according to Fox Sports. Gordon carried 14 times for 37 yards and a touchdown before briefly exiting with cramps, returning in the fourth quarter after receiving treatment.
The loss deepens a difficult start under first-year head coach Jeff Hafley and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, following an offseason roster reset that included releasing veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa — after the franchise had said it intended to retain him, as Hoodline previously reported. Hafley took over after Miami parted ways with Mike McDaniel.
A Costly Bet on the Backfield
A Costly Bet on the Backfield Achane's $16 million average annual salary underscores the scale of Miami's investment in the running back position. His four-year extension signaled the central role the team envisioned for him in the offense going forward.
Now Miami must navigate the rest of the season without its most explosive weapon, leaning on Gordon and likely additional roster moves to patch together a functional backfield. With Achane sidelined for the year, replacing his production may prove to be Hafley's toughest challenge yet.
