‘A very versatile back.’ Dolphins rookie RB Jaylen Wright wants to show he can do it all
Prior to his final preseason game, Jaylen Wright gave quite the glowing evaluation of his skill set.
“I feel like I’m a back that can do anything,” Wright said in mid-August. “I feel like I’m a very versatile back, somebody who can go out in space and catch the ball and make something happen with the ball in his hands. I’m real confident in my ability whether that’s running through the line of scrimmage, breaking tackles, seeing the seam and hitting it and not being caught as well as catching the ball.”
It might have sounded a bit hyperbolic at the time but against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 23, the rookie running back flashed his ability, finishing with 77 scrimmage yards, 44 of which came on four catches. Wright’s play, however, didn’t surprise his teammates.
“This last preseason game, I thought he did a good job,” Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert said. “He could do better, of course, but he did a good job in his resilience to overcome a few things and his mental aspect was definitely there, so I’m looking forward to that, for sure.”
“We believe in him for sure,” Terron Armstead said. “You see the talent. You see the ability. He’s still learning. He’s still growing, but he has a lot of game and a lot of confidence, too.”
If this feels like déjà vu, you’re probably right. Last year, a rookie running back by the name of De’Von Achane burst onto the scene with a 203-yard, two touchdown performance against the Denver Broncos. And while it might be too early to predict a similar showing from Wright, there’s belief within the organization that the former could have a similar impact.
“He fits right into that running back room: fast,” Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said. “He’s fast. He’s a rookie and might be seeing some [De’Von] Achane-kind of deals going on for him.”
Of course Wright is far from a finished product. He will be the first to say that. “I still have a lot of learning to do,” he remarked after the Aug. 23 loss to the Bucs — but the host of experience present in the running back room means that he’s in a great position to grow. Mostert, Achane and Jeff Wilson Jr. have a combined almost two decades of experience.
“The NFL, whether people believe it or not, is a fraternity of brothers, and your position group, that’s the same thing,” Mostert said. “And that’s the mind-set that you’ve kind of got to have in regards to your position because at the end of the day, we’re all trying to feed our families. We’re all trying to do what’s right for each and we’re trying to do right for the team. You can’t have anybody that’s a ‘me player’ obviously, because those ‘me players’ get weeded out as you’ve seen in the past.”
With the Dolphins’ running back depth, the only question becomes playing time. On that point, Mike McDaniel has been rather reserved. The third-year head coach has always taken the running back by committee approach but the 2024 Dolphins might have the most talent at that position since McDaniel’s arrival.
“Just trying to get individuals opportunities and let those opportunities shape their overall breadth of how many touches they get in the course of a game,” McDaniel said when asked about how he plans to divide the running back touches. Put differently, he plans to ride the hot hand. “It’s just to get everybody involved is important for me and then letting the game take its course on who’s competitive edge we’re going to lean on the most.”
Wright, to his credit, believes he’s can handle regular-season snaps. Although McDaniel’s offense is notoriously complicated, the former Tennessee Volunteer has repeatedly said he’s ready. Sunday’s season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars will be Wright’s first chance to show and prove it.
“I feel like I’m a back that can stay on the field all three downs,” Wright said following the preseason loss to the Bucs, later adding “ I think I got most of the important stuff down to where they trust me on the field in the regular season. So when my opportunity comes, I’m willing to take full advantage of it.”
