With Achane sidelined for the remainder of the 2026 NFL season, the Dolphins will need the rest of their running-back corps to step up. Entering Week 4, the Phins’ RB depth chart includes Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon, and Carlos Rodriguez Jr. The latter was a practice-squad call-up on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s second-slate game against the Vikings.

Although both Wright and Gordon are intriguing young players, they aren’t quite at Achane’s level. Without the talent out of Texas A&M, Miami may really be without any firepower to take on the Vikings defense, led by blitz-maniac and familiar face Brian Flores.

The Dolphins won’t be the only side missing their best player on offense, though. The Vikings will have a significant absence of their own as Justin Jeffersson is out for Week 4 against Miami with a left ankle sprain.

Wright and Gordon’s production

With Achane out of the picture for the entire 2026 NFL season, the Dolphins will need their supporting cast to step up. Clearly, they won’t place all their eggs in one basket. Instead, the Fins will give carries to both Gordon and Wright, riding the hot hand, if there even is one.

So far this season, Gordon has 20 carries for 48 yards and a touchdown, while Wright has just three carries for 10 yards. Most of Gordon’s usage came after Achane left Week 3 injured. Most likely, he will be the first running back option against the Vikings, too. However, that could change if Wright gets off to a better start than Gordon.

Without Achane available, there is no clear-cut HB1 in Miami’s offense, and it could all be subject to change based on who is playing better.

Key takeaways

• Torn ACL rules out Miami Dolphins running back for the entire 2026 season.
• Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon, and Carlos Rodriguez Jr. compose the RB depth chart.
• Ollie Gordon recorded 20 carries for 48 yards and a touchdown before Week 4.

Hill suffered a dislocated left knee and multiple torn ligaments, including his ACL, during a Week 4 game against the New York Jets on September 29, 2025. The injury ended his season after just four games and required surgery the following day. Hill later underwent another procedure on his knee as part of his long rehabilitation process.

The former Miami Dolphins star has continued to make progress, but his recovery has been much more complicated than a typical ACL rehabilitation. In July, Hill revealed that he was still trying to regain strength in his injured leg, while his agent Drew Rosenhaus said doctors wanted him to wait until at least mid-October before attempting his comeback.

When is Tyreek Hill coming back?

Tyreek Hill does not have a definitive return date yet, but November has emerged as the realistic window for his comeback. Rosenhaus said doctors recommended that the receiver postpone his return, emphasizing that the priority is making sure Hill is completely healthy rather than rushing him onto the field.

The timing is particularly important because Hill is not simply waiting to be medically cleared. He also needs to sign with a team, complete a ramp-up period and demonstrate that his surgically repaired knee can handle the demands of an NFL game. Rosenhaus previously said Hill was not expected to sign before the season and that there was no need to rush the process.

There is growing optimism that Hill can still contribute in 2026, especially after he recently showed himself running and training while continuing his rehabilitation. The eight-time Pro Bowler also sparked fresh speculation about his next destination with his recent comments about being ready for some “cold weather,” but his priority remains completing his recovery before choosing a team.

Key takeaways

• Tyreek Hill suffered a dislocated left knee and multiple torn ligaments on September 29, 2025.
• Doctors advised waiting until at least mid-October before attempting a return to NFL action.
• A realistic window for his comeback has now emerged for November.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Achane suffered a torn ACL, meaning he will be sidelined around nine months before being able to make a full recovery. Hence, the RB depth chart for the Dolphins without him stands as follows:

• RB1- Ollie Gordon II
• RB2- Jaylen Wright
• RB3: DJ Herman (primarily a Full Back)
• Practice Squad RB: Jarquez Hunter

Dolphins RB depth chart is in shambles

Ollie Gordon II stepped up after Achane’s injury and he did have a good day, but he ended up sidelined with heavy cramping. While that is worth monitoring, he should be good to go in Week 4. However, he cramped up with less than a full game played, which is concerning to some degree of his physical capability to handle a workhorse load.

Jaylen Wright was sidelined in Week 3 due to a stinger and foot injury. He should be back soon. However, now it’s a time to see if the Dolphins will adapt a run by committee or trust one of them to be a top back throughout the season. This also means that every key player on offense except for QB Malik Willis and TE Greg Dulcich are in their first three seasons in the NFL.

Achane was the most productive player on the Dolphins

Throughout the first three weeks of the 2026 NFL season, Achane was leading the team in yards from scrimmage. At 25 years old he was just entering his prime and being the one bright spot on an offense riddled with injuries, lackluster depth, and questionable talent.

Key takeaways

• De’Von Achane suffered a torn ACL that will sideline him for the rest of the season.
• Backup running back Ollie Gordon II experienced heavy cramping after stepping up in relief.
• Jaylen Wright was sidelined in Week 3 due to a stinger and foot injury.

The initial reports indicate a knee injury, and Achane is out for today’s game. It is a tough blow for the Dolphins’ backfield, where Malik Willis has leaned heavily on him.

Jaylen Wright is listed behind Achane on the depth chart, but he is also out for this game due to injury. Jeff Hafley is dealing with issues that go beyond performance and on-field matters, as injuries are also becoming a concern.

Gordon repaid the trust

While Achane’s departure is a major headache, Gordon’s immediate entry paid off. Shortly after taking the field, the running back broke through the Chiefs’ defense and scored the Dolphins’ first touchdown of the game.

Achane is crucial to the Dolphins

De’Von Achane has been the ultimate focal point of Miami’s offense through the first two weeks of the 2026 season, racking up 110 rushing yards on 31 carries alongside 7 receptions for 49 yards.

While the Dolphins’ offense as a whole has struggled to find rhythm, Achane remains their absolute heartbeat—his game-breaking speed and dual-threat versatility as both a runner and a receiver force opposing defenses to respect the big play every single time he touches the ball.

Key takeaways

• De’Von Achane left the field limping after suffering a knee injury against Kansas City.
• Ollie Gordon II scored Miami’s first touchdown shortly after entering the game.
• Achane accumulated 110 rushing yards through the first two weeks.

The Dolphins released Hill in February 2026 as part of a major roster overhaul that also included the departure of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Miami decided to move on from several key players while beginning a new chapter under its current leadership, ending Hill’s four-year tenure with the franchise.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs have emerged as a potential destination for the former All-Pro receiver. Rumors of a reunion have gained attention in recent weeks, with Hill potentially joining an offense featuring Patrick Mahomes, Kenneth Walker III and Travis Kelce. However, despite the speculation surrounding Kansas City, there is still no official agreement between the two sides.

When will Tyreek Hill return and play in the NFL?

Tyreek Hill’s return to the NFL is currently uncertain, as the wide receiver continues recovering from the serious knee injury he suffered during the 2025 season. Although a November comeback has been discussed as a potential possibility, there is no confirmed return date, and his recovery will ultimately determine when he can resume playing.

The veteran suffered a dislocated knee and multiple ligament tears, including an ACL injury, in September 2025. His rehabilitation has involved multiple surgeries, and Hill recently acknowledged that he is still working to regain strength in his injured leg. His agent has also indicated that the priority is ensuring he is fully prepared before signing with a team.

Being a free agent gives Hill the flexibility to sign with any NFL team interested in his services without requiring a trade. The Chiefs have become one of the most frequently discussed destinations because of his previous success in Kansas City and the possibility of reuniting with Mahomes. However, head coach Andy Reid previously indicated that nothing was happening regarding a potential signing.

For now, Hill’s future remains tied to his recovery. A return in November could give a team an opportunity to add an explosive offensive weapon for the second half of the season and potentially a Super Bowl run. Kansas City remains a possible destination, but Hill must first get healthy before any reunion becomes official.

Key takeaways

• Tyreek Hill remains an unsigned free agent due to a knee injury.
• The Dolphins released the wide receiver in February 2026 during roster changes.
• A potential return is targeted for November as recovery continues.

One important detail to keep in mind is that the MTV Video Music Awards are also taking place today, Sunday, September 27. The event is being held in Los Angeles, so Swift’s schedule could make it difficult for her to attend the ceremony if she travels to Miami.

So far in the 2026 NFL season, Swift has been in the stands for the Chiefs’ victories. Both games, played at Arrowhead Stadium, ended in wins over the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts.

The singer is often seen alongside Kelce at various points throughout the season, although there is still no confirmation that she will travel to Miami for Week 3. If her presence can be considered a good-luck charm, having her at the stadium could potentially provide a boost for the Chiefs.

Kelce is back to his best in 2026

Travis Kelce is off to a flying start in the 2026 season, racking up 172 receiving yards on 12 catches and a touchdown through the first two games to keep the Chiefs undefeated. He looks completely rejuvenated out on the field, and even Andy Reid credited Kelce and Taylor Swift’s marriage for giving the veteran tight end that extra spark and work ethic heading into his 14th year in the league.

When is the Chiefs’ next game at Arrowhead?

After back-to-back road trips against the Dolphins in Week 3 and the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4, followed by their Week 5 bye, the Chiefs finally return to Arrowhead Stadium for their next home game on Sunday, October 18, to face the Los Angeles Chargers. It marks their first game in Kansas City in nearly a month, making it the ideal spot for Taylor Swift to return to her luxury suite and cheer on Travis Kelce as divisional action resumes.

Key takeaways

• Taylor Swift’s attendance is not guaranteed at Hard Rock Stadium for Week 3.
• Travis Kelce recorded 172 receiving yards and one touchdown through two games.
• Kansas City returns to Arrowhead Stadium for their next home game on October 18.

The fact is the Chiefs come as a big favorite for this game, and the Dolphins‘ WR room is very young, but also deals with a great amount of injuries. However, Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley provided updates.

Hafley said Caleb Douglas won’t play vs Chiefs due to an ankle injury that occured in Week 2’s game. On the flip side, Chris Bell is expected to play after overcoming some knee injury in recent weeks.

The Dolphins WR room is intriguing

Both Douglas and Bell are rookies, so the Dolphins have heavy capital invested in the WR depth chart. However, Bell has a long history of injuries since college, and Douglas is already sidelined. Hence, the question is not their talent, but their availability.

Alongside both rookies, Malik Washington is also on the slot. Now, the team is married to quarterback Malik Willis for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean they can change that in future NFL drafts.

The Chiefs should deal with Dolphins WR quite a lot

Given how this game is expected to go, the Chiefs might have to deal with Bell and Washington a lot. Assuming the status quo remains, the Dolphins will be trailing a lot in this game, which will prompt them to go all-in on their passing attack.

Hence, Bell and Washington should be featured as key parts of the offense. The Chiefs got burned in Week 2 by the Colts. So, Steve Spagnuolo, as the team’s defensive coordinator, will have to plan a smart scheme.

Key takeaways

• Caleb Douglas will miss Week 3 against Kansas City due to a Week 2 ankle injury.
• Rookie receiver Chris Bell is expected to suit up vs Chiefs despite his recent knee issues.
• The Dolphins defense expects a heavy passing workload after Chiefs surrendered big yards in Week 2.

Hill’s recovery has become one of the biggest free-agent storylines around the NFL because the former Miami Dolphins star has yet to join a team. Rosenhaus has emphasized that there is no reason to rush the receiver back, with doctors recommending that he wait until at least October before attempting a comeback.

That timeline leaves the door open for Hill to return later in the season, potentially around November if his recovery continues as planned. Rosenhaus has said Hill will be a coveted player once he is healthy enough to return, but the priority remains making sure the 32-year-old is completely recovered before signing with a team.

Why is Tyreek Hill not playing?

Tyreek Hill is not playing because he remains a free agent while recovering from the serious knee injury he suffered during the 2025 season. The Dolphins released Hill in February, and no other team has signed him since, largely because teams are waiting to see how he progresses through his rehabilitation.

Hill suffered a dislocated left knee and multiple ligament injuries, including a torn ACL, in September 2025. He subsequently underwent multiple surgeries and revealed during his rehabilitation that he was still working to regain power in his injured leg. That recovery has made his return timeline difficult to predict.

For now, Hill’s absence is not an indication that he has given up on playing in 2026. Rosenhaus has made it clear that he expects his client to return this season, although there is no official date for his comeback. If Hill reaches full health later in the year, he could become one of the most intriguing free-agent additions available to teams preparing for the playoff race.

The biggest question is therefore not whether Hill wants to play, but when his body will be ready for NFL action again. If his recovery continues without setbacks, a return sometime in the fall remains possible, with November representing a potential target for a more cautious comeback.

Bowers recently underwent a meniscus trim procedure after dealing with the knee issue, and his recovery has been viewed positively. Rather than risk aggravating the injury in Week 1, head coach Klint Kubiak is taking a cautious approach with one of the most important players on his offense. The Raiders would much rather have Bowers healthy for the long term than push him onto the field before he is ready.

His absence is still a significant blow, especially for Kirk Cousins. The veteran quarterback was chosen to lead Kubiak’s offense into the season, and Bowers was expected to be one of his most dangerous and reliable weapons. Without him against Miami, the Raiders will have to find other ways to generate production in the passing game while their offensive centerpiece continues his recovery.

When will Brock Bowers return from injury with Raiders?

The good news for the Raiders is that Brock Bowers’ recovery has been positive following the meniscus trim, which carries a considerably shorter recovery timeline than a more extensive meniscus repair. That has created optimism that his absence could be limited to the beginning of the season rather than becoming a long-term issue.

Bowers could potentially return next week when the Raiders travel to face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2. However, that should be viewed as a possibility rather than a guarantee, particularly because Kubiak has emphasized caution with his star tight end. The Raiders will likely want to see how Bowers responds physically before making a final decision about his availability.

For now, Las Vegas will have to begin the season without one of its biggest offensive weapons. Michael Mayer is expected to take on a larger role, but replacing what Bowers brings to the offense will be difficult. For Cousins and Kubiak, Week 1 against Miami will therefore be an early test of how effectively the Raiders can operate without their star tight end.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins released Gronowski from the practice squad. With Gronowski gone, Miami now has three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, while the practice squad is now full.

The team previously released Cam Miller—who played at UM and SMU—and traded Quinn Ewers, who served as the team’s backup last year, to the Jacksonville Jaguars. That leaves Malik Willis as the starter, followed by newly acquired backup Kyle McCord and Brady Cook.

Dolphins announce practice squad moves

The Miami Dolphins filled out their practice squad Tuesday with the addition of eight players, though only one of them was with the team during training camp.

The Dolphins announced the signings of ILB Liam Anderson, EDGE Clelin Ferrell, EDGE Amari Gainer, DL Jordan Miller, WR Will Sheppard, CB Jaylin Simpson, DL Mazi Smith, and TE Tre Watson.

The additions feature two former first-round picks, Smith and Ferrell. Those eight players join the group the Dolphins added to the practice squad on Monday, a list composed entirely of players the team had previously waived.

Perhaps surprisingly, the Dolphins did not re-sign any of the players waived Monday to make space for roster additions, including cornerback Ethan Bonner, tackle Marques Cox, receiver AJ Henning, defensive end Max Llewellyn, and guard/tackle Josh Priebe. It remains possible that those players simply wanted to move on and pursue other opportunities in the NFL.

Tagovailoa took part in the Falcons’ preseason finale against the Dolphins. He completed seven out of eight passes for 95 yards, splitting reps with Cooper Rush and Jack Strand. Stefanski, preparing for his first year as the Falcons’ coach, reflected on Tagovailoa’s performance after the game.

“I thought Tua did a nice job operating, obviously moving the football for a couple drives. Plenty to clean up. An avoidable center-to-quarterback exchange. We have to clean that up. And we will. I thought by and large, [he] operated,” Stefanski said, per reporter Marc Raimondi.

Tua’s performance and the QB decision

Tagovailoa has been going down to the wire with Michael Penix Jr. for the Falcons’ starting job. With the preseason over, it is up to Kevin Stefanski to make the important decision.

The Falcons ended the preseason with a 2-1 record, coming out of the finale with a 17-12 win over the Dolphins. Atlanta did all of its damage in the first half, scoring all 17 points as the team prevented Miami from getting a touchdown at any point in the contest.

Brian Robinson Jr. led the rushing attack with five carries for 17 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Kyle Pitts Sr. caught three passes for 57 yards, and Jack Velling made four receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown.

Tagovailoa‘s night ended in the second quarter after he completed 7 of 8 passes for 95 yards. Quarterback Cooper Rush replaced him at quarterback for the Falcons. The game marked a memorable return for Tagovailoa to Miami while establishing the start of his tenure in Atlanta.