Achane doubtful, other Dolphins questionable. And new QB Miller weighs in
De’Von Achane, the NFL’s leader in per carry average (5.7) and the Dolphins’ MVP this season, appears likely to miss Sunday’s finale at New England (4:25 p.m., WSVN Fox 7).
Achane did not practice all week and the Dolphins listed him as doubtful for the game because of a shoulder injury.
If he doesn’t play Sunday, he will end the season with the third-highest rushing total in a season in team history (1350 yards). Achane needs only 23 yards to surpass Ricky Williams’ 2003 rushing total for second on the list. Williams had 1,853 yards rushing in 2002, which is the team record.
Achane has 1,821 yards from scrimmage, but he would need an unfathomable 368 yards to reach Williams’ club record of 2,206 yards from scrimmage in 2002.
Several other players on offense are questionable for the finale, including receiver Jaylen Waddle (ribs), right tackle Austin Jackson (a new groin injury and a back issue) and center Aaron Brewer (neck). Brewer practiced fully on Friday, but Jackson and Waddle were limited. Waddle said he’s unsure if he will be able to play on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, the Dolphins placed tight end Darren Waller on injured reserve and poached running back Donovan Edwards from Washington’s practice squad. Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon II and Edwards will be the Dolphins’ healthy tailbacks on Sunday.
Defensively, the Dolphins will be without safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who will miss his third game in a row with a calf injury.
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks, the NFL’s leading tackle, is questionable with a hamstring injury but will try to play. Brooks and linebacker Chop Robinson (who remains in concussion protocol) were limited participants in Friday’s practice. Robinson also is listed as questionable.
Linebacker Quinton Bell missed Friday’s practice with an illness and is questionable for Sunday.
Kicker Jason Sanders (who has been on injured reserve all season with a hip injury) is listed as questionable, but Mike McDaniel said the team would stick with Riley Patterson as its kicker Sunday.
More on new QB Miller
New Dolphins quarterback Cam Miller has a sneaking suspicion about one of the big reasons the Dolphins poached him from the Raiders practice squad this week.
“I process the game really fast; I think it’s a big reason why I’m here,” he said Friday.
“And in this offense, you have to process really quickly, go from point A to point B, and I think I do that really well. The system that I had in college is very similar to that.
“I don’t have the biggest arm. But I feel like I put the ball on time. I think I’m a great leader and I know how to orchestrate an offense pretty well.”
Miller said he was “in shock” to be poached by another team with only days remaining in the regular season.
“There were a lot of emotions, but I’m extremely blessed to be here,” he said. “I had a great experience with the Raiders, but I really like this opportunity.”
He’s under contract to the Dolphins through 2026. “I’m just looking forward to this offseason,” he said. “I want to learn and develop in this system.”
Miller had a Zoom session with the Dolphins before the draft and “I remember it going well and I remember going into the draft, I had them in my top five places that I wanted to play.”
Las Vegas took him in the sixth round, one round before Miami selected Quinn Ewers, who will make his third start in Sunday’s finale at New England (4:25 p.m., WSVN Fox 7).
Miller appreciates Mike McDaniel’s ability to develop quarterbacks. (The Dolphins have not announced whether McDaniel will return next season; NFL Network has said he’s expected to return, and it has been tilting in that direction, but no final decision appears set.)
“That was appealing during the draft process for sure,” Miller said of McDaniel’s QB acumen. “He knows ball really, really well. And I think that’s universally known. And I just want to be a part of it. I’m super excited.”
Miller spent the season on the Raiders practice squad and did not appear in a game.
He has a sterling resume at the FCS level, throwing 81 touchdowns and 19 interceptions and completing 69.3% of his passes in four years at North Dakota State (2021 through 2024) while going 45-11 and leading his team to two national championships. He also ran for 2,277 yards on 4.3 per carry.
He said he received interest from some Power 4 FBS schools before his senior season but opted to stay at North Dakota State.
“I just was so comfortable in the system that I was in at North Dakota State and the coaching staff, my teammates, and I couldn’t have probably asked for a better program to be a part of,” he said. “So there was no need for me to leave for money.”
Miller doesn’t have prototypical height; the Dolphins list him at 6-1, the same height as Tua Tagovailoa.
But Miller cited Tagovailoa, Baker Mayfield and Brock Purdy as several 6-1 quarterbacks who have thrived. (Ewers is listed at 6-2.)
“I think Tua gets the ball out on time; he’s very accurate,” he said. “Baker Mayfield and Brock Purdy are… shorter but they play the game the right way. Those are some guys that I try to watch and emulate.”
Mike McDaniel said he likes Miller’s toughness and field vision.
Raiders minority owner and Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady endorsed Miller before the draft, praising his throwing technique and potential.
Did they communicate much in his nine months with the Raiders?
“There were some brief conversations but we didn’t talk a lot,” Miller said. “I know he has a lot going on with Fox and I know he was in communication with the coaches.”
Let there be no doubt about Miller’s mission.
“I want to be a starter in this league,” he said. “And wherever that’s at, I’ll be happy.”
This story was originally published January 2, 2026 at 4:02 PM.
