Dolphins' De'Von Achane Held Out After Injury vs. Raiders As Precaution, per McDaniel

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane left Week 11's game against the Las Vegas Raiders as a precautionary measure, according to Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.

Achane was playing in his first game back from a knee injury suffered in Week 5.

He was pulled in the first quarter after a tackle impacted that same knee, according to McDaniel.

"He kind of got landed on and it was a little painful," McDaniel said after the game, per ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques. "He was politicking trying to come back in the game but I was a little worried with the rust."

The Dolphins received "positive feedback" from training staff regarding Achane's injury, per the Miami Herald's Daniel Oyefusi.

The rookie visited the medical tent following a tackle by Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson before leaving the game. In Achane's absence, the Dolphins turned over the ball three times but recovered in a 20-13 win.

The Dolphins could be hoping Achane, who rushed for 203 yards and totaled four touchdowns in his second NFL game, is the team's running back of the future.

In total, the rookie has 38 carries for 460 yards and five touchdowns so far this season. That's good for third among all rookie pass rushers in 2023, even though Achane has spent the better part of six games on the sidelines.

McDaniel was accordingly cautious with bringing back Achane from the knee injury he suffered October 8 during a victory over the New York Giants. The coach categorized the issue as a "sprain-type injury" that Achane could have played on with a brace.

"The thing that you do if you have to really minimize the time off the field, is in those situations with players, you throw a brace on their knee and have them go," McDaniel said Monday. "We just didn't really envision him being one that would really flourish with a brace so we took the time to make sure that we can get structurally completely strong. We probably, a little, we erred on the side of caution with that."

The Dolphins took that same cautious approach by holding Achane out of most of Sunday's game.

Miami could be hoping that decision will ensure Achane will be available Friday against the New York Jets.

The 2023 third-round pick earned the first start of his NFL career in Week 5, when he rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown, and could be starting again Friday if he is healthy. The rookie will be evaluated further Monday, according to McDaniel.