Dolphins’ struggling run game may finally get much-needed help
The Miami Dolphins have won six of their last seven games despite an inconsistent running attack, which could be resolved for the final stretch of the season.
And the Dolphins need everything they can get out of their run game, which averages a league-worst 3.6 yards per carry, if Miami hopes to clinch their first playoff berth since 2016.
While leading rusher Myles Gaskin has not been added back to the 53-man roster just yet, Gaskin’s progress in practice for the next week or two from knee sprain could determine whether he will get the bulk of the carries like he did to begin the 2020 season.
In the meantime, the Dolphins plan to continue rotating their running backs, which include rookie Salvon Ahmed, veteran Matt Breida, second-year back Patrick Laird and veteran DeAndre Washington, who finished the game in Miami’s win over the New York Jets last week.
“Normally it takes a week, two weeks to hopefully get back to where he was. But we take that into consideration. I hope a guy like Myles does or could get right back to form quickly, but I don’t think there are any assumptions that it’ll be that way,” Flores said Wednesday as the Dolphins prepare for Sunday’s home game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“We’ve got some other backs. Normally, we’ll rotate them.”
After Gaskin, who has 387 yards and two touchdowns, first landed on injured reserve on Nov. 5, veteran Jordan Howard was the Dolphins’ starting running back for one game.
That was before Ahmed, a rookie who played with Gaskin at the University of Washington, seized the starting role for the next two games, including a 85-yard outing in Arizona, which led to the eventual release last month of Howard, who scored four goal line touchdowns this season.
Ahmed suffered a shoulder injury against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 22, causing him to miss the Jets game, which saw Breida earn his first start of the season.
But a fumble by Breida in the third quarter caused the Dolphins to turn to Washington, a fifth-year veteran wisely acquired at the trade deadline, to finish the game in the fourth quarter.
Washington, a four-year contributor with the Oakland Raiders, was praised by Dolphins running back coach Eric Studesville for his preparation, work ethic and toughness, which could lead to further opportunities with Gaskin and Ahmed on the mend.
“I just think overall, I think he’s got a skillset that can help us and we’re looking forward to his skillset continuing to develop,” Studesville said of Washington, who had 51 yards rushing with two catches for 11 yards out the backfield.
With Gaskin and Ahmed expected to practice despite their injuries this week, the Dolphins may have a loaded backfield for their final five games of the season with their first playoff berth since 2016 within grasp.
Flores said Gaskin could be the lead back again if he can return to form after a month away from the practice fields. But that would depend on Gaskin being able to quickly work his way into a game shape, which could take some time.
“If he goes out there and practices well, and [we] feel like he can take the majority of the carries like he was before the injury, that could be the case. We’ll see,” Flores said of Gaskin.
Then again, with several options to choose from, the Dolphins may try to use whichever running back they believe can provide a spark.
Miami is one of nine teams with fewer than 10 rushing touchdowns this season (with nine). They are also one of four teams to not have a run go longer than 30 yards this season (29 yards has been the longest).
The Dolphins run game also sits near the bottom of the league with 1,048 total yards (29th) and 95.3 yards per game (30th).
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