Dolphins RB Achane suffers knee injury, won't return vs. Chiefs

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  Marcel Louis-JacquesSep 27, 2026, 02:59 PM ET

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  Marcel Louis-Jacques joined ESPN in 2019 as a beat reporter covering the Buffalo Bills, before switching to the Miami Dolphins in 2021. The former Carolina Panthers beat writer for the Charlotte Observer won the APSE award for breaking news and the South Carolina Press Association award for enterprise writing in 2018.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane will not return to the team's game against the Kansas City Chiefs after suffering a knee injury on their opening drive.

Achane took his third rushing attempt of the game 11 yards around the left end but was tackled awkwardly by Chiefs safety Alohi Gilman. He was slow to leave the field after the tackle but was eventually escorted to the blue medical tent under his own power. The Pro Bowler ultimately left the tent after a few minutes and was taken to the locker room for additional testing.

He did not return to the sideline in the first half but was seen on the Dolphins' sideline after halftime without his shoulder pads or helmet on and then ruled out.

The 2023 third-round pick missed five games with a knee injury as a rookie but has otherwise been more durable than his 5-foot-9, 195-pound frame would suggest, especially considering his workload. He missed two combined games over the past two seasons, despite handling 586 total touches in 2024 and 2025.

He's coming off the best season of his career in 2025, during which he recorded 1,838 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns en route to his first Pro Bowl.

Achane's 2026 season has started slowly, with 159 scrimmage yards on 38 touches through two weeks. Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley joked this offseason that Achane could get 40 or more touches each week but the running back said he hasn't raised any issues about his workload this season.

"I've never been that type [to complain about touches]," Achane said this week. "Me and Haf already had a conversation. He always wants me to -- if I see something, come up to him and tell us something, but I've never been that type of player to go to somebody and tell them what to do or say, 'Oh, I need the ball more.' I mean, I've never been that type of player, so I'm not going to start now."

With running back Jaylen Wright inactive Sunday with a stinger, the Dolphins only activated two running backs this week -- Achane and second-year back Ollie Gordon II, who punched in his first touchdown of the season following Achane's injury.