One Miami Dolphins player’s second chance at a first impression comes with enormous stakes
The Miami Dolphins’ offense will be adjusting on the fly. But one player in particular is facing a major opportunity in Week 3.
They say that first impressions are everything. For the Miami Dolphins, there will be no new hellos this week — at least in the offensive backfield. Despite the injury to star De’Von Achane, Miami has not signed another running back to the active roster.
But there will be a first impression for all of these familiar faces in the team’s life after Achane for the rest of the season. And that means both young backs on the 53-man roster, Ollie Gordon and Jaylen Wright, will have a chance to stake a claim to this backfield. It’s a massive opportunity for both. But it’s a more high-stakes opportunity for Wright.
Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright facing an opportunity he may never see again
Wright is in his third NFL season and has just 141 career carries to his name. He’s a low mileage back who is still just 23 years old. The Miami Dolphins’ old regime traded a future 3rd round draft choice to pull the pick out of thin air they needed to draft him. And yet he’s been a second fiddle to Achane his entire career. That’s all he’s known for his life in the NFL.
Until now. And with second-year running back Ollie Gordon II serving as the other primary face in this room, Wright’s path to an impactful role has never been more clear. Gordon is a physical runner — but he lacks the explosiveness that Wright offers. And lord knows Achane’s appeal was built on blinding speed and explosive athleticism. The parallel is here.
So as Wright returns to practice this week for Miami after missing the Chiefs game, he should be doing so with an understanding of what is at stake. He’s in Year 3. He’s got the physical ability to offer some similar qualities to the starter in Miami’s backfield. But it needs to happen now. And without a strong first impression as a candidate to start, Wright could once again be chasing someone else in Miami’s pecking order. Gordon II got a head start last week. So let’s see what Wright does with his second chance at a first impression.
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