Dolphins’ McDaniel updates Achane injury, explains how he changed
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel beamed like a proud parent about his team morphing into a dominant running team, a trend that continued in Sunday’s 34-10 win at the Jets, Miami’s fourth victory in a row.
He also delivered good news about star running back De’Von Achane, who left late the first half with a rib injury. McDaniel indicated that there’s no evidence that he broke a rib.
“He was hurting, but he was available to come back in the game in an emergency,” McDaniel said. “You worry about breaks that take time. Didn’t see that. But he will be getting treatment. He was available to come back in the game. [We just decided] not to” use him with Miami comfortably ahead and Achane not 100%.
If Achane responds well to treatment, he seemingly would be available for the Dec. 15 Monday night game at Pittsburgh. “I promise you — he will be in there if he’s ready,” McDaniel said.
Achane, who was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month in November, ran seven times for 92 yards (13.1 per carry) before the injury, which was sustained when he tackled on a 29-yard run.
The Dolphins (6-7) ran for 239 yards on 5.8 per carry and “that’s a formula to win games in December,” McDaniel said. “December football is unique and special because you kind of know what’s coming. There aren’t too many bells and whistles. Teams know where you have success and failure.
“We felt we had a strength with our offensive line unit. You knew the Jets would try to stop the run. Being able to execute when they know it’s coming is what you are trying to work towards the whole season. Very proud of the team effort.”
With Achane sidelined for the second half, Jaylen Wright produced his first 100-yard rushing game, churning out 107 yards on 24 carries (4.5 per carry).
“Jaylen had expectations going into the season, and it didn’t start the way he pictured it,” McDaniel said. “What did he do? Focus on ways to contribute, whether special teams or getting reps not only on live action units but on the look team.
“Last couple weeks, his game has been as good as I’ve seen it since he’s been here. We’ve been seeing it in practice. You find out about people when things don’t go your way.”
McDaniel loves to see the running game humming, noting if “you are able to do the least risky thing” and get yards, it allows play callers to be more aggressive.
“You have eight guys by the line of scrimmage, and it allows you to” take chances downfield “and be more responsible with your air yards.”
McDaniel addressed other issues:
▪ He said he has adjusted times, lengths and content of team meetings in recent weeks. He has streamlined his message to make it more digestable for his players.
“We have a younger team so we have less walk throughs and I try to minimize how much I talk in meetings and challenge coaches to get to the nuts and bolts of what we need to cover in meetings.”
▪ Defensively, the Dolphins had three interceptions (by Rasul Douglas, Tyrel Dodson and Ethan Bonner).
“The main thing was the takeaways and holding them to 1 for 12 third-down percentage,” he said.
▪ Why did McDaniel call a pass on a third down late in the first half — a play in which Tua Tagovailoa barely avoided a backward pass?
The coach said he was trying to create a bubble screen for Wright “that didn’t work out.”
He said Tagovalioa and Wright “weren’t on the same page with timing. If Jaylen had looked back, he would have had it earlier. On third and five, I didn’t want to concede and just punt. Looking back at it, I might have had a run play that could have given us a chance.”
This story was originally published December 7, 2025 at 5:03 PM.
