Achane’s 2,000-yard bid would be Dolphins’ first since Ricky Williams—if he can play

Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane has established himself as one of the NFL’s most dynamic and versatile backs.

Entering Week 18 against the New England Patriots, Achane is just 162 scrimmage yards away from reaching 2,000 total yards from scrimmage, a milestone no Miami player has achieved since Ricky Williams in 2002.

There is some uncertainty surrounding his availability, however. The Dolphins announced that Achane is dealing with a shoulder injury and was held out of practice Wednesday, leaving his status for Sunday unclear.

De’Von Achane becoming one of the league’s most versatile backs

Even with that question mark, Achane’s production this season has been elite. He leads the league in yards per carry at 5.7, has rushed for 1,350 yards with eight touchdowns, and has added 488 receiving yards and four touchdown catches. While Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson often draw the spotlight for their all-around impact, Achane’s résumé suggests he could soon be mentioned in the same breath.

"It shows I can be used all types of ways," Achane told Joe Schad with the Palm Beach Post on Wednesday.

Looking ahead, Achane made it clear that a 2,000-yard rushing season is a personal goal. "That's everybody's goal. If everything goes right, you just have one of those years, anything could happen, for real," he said.

Achane remains on his rookie contract after entering the league in 2023, making the upcoming offseason a critical one. An extension is expected to be part of the conversation, though if negotiations become too costly, Miami’s new general manager could consider exploring a trade.