The Miami Dolphins faced the Houston Texans in the preseason Saturday for just the third time ever. Perhaps after the team’s injury history this week, it should be the last.
Multiple Dolphins players left Saturday’s game with injuries, most notably running back De’Von Achane, who was carted to the locker room after suffering a shoulder injury.
UPDATED (Aug. 21, 12:10 p.m.): Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Monday that Achane is “week to week,” and that he avoided a major injury. However, McDaniel would not commit to Achane being available for the opener.
Miami Dolphins’ De’Von Achane Leaves Texans Game on Cart
The severity of Achane’s shoulder injury will not be known until he undergoes an MRI, which is scheduled for Sunday.
“We’ll know more tomorrow,” Dolphins Mike McDaniel said postgame.
Achane was hurt during a third-quarter drive. It was not clear what happened to him; the television broadcast did not show a video replay of the play in question.
Achane ran to the sidelines at the 9:44 mark of the second quarter in serious discomfort. He was seen flexing his left hand on his way off the field. It was the last time the game broadcast showed Achane before he disappeared to the locker room.
The injury came just moments after backup quarterback Skylar Thompson came off the field with an issue of his own. (Thompson later returned to the game.) Guard Robert Jones also got hurt Saturday, walking to the locker room under the watchful eye of members of the team’s medical staff.
Achane’s injury spoiled what has been a promising preseason. Achane had carried the ball six times for 27 yards before getting hurt.
Saying Devon Achane is fast is an understatement.
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 19, 2023
He also had emerged as the team’s likely kickoff returner — an important role for the rookie with blazing speed.
The injury left the Dolphins diminished at an already banged-up position. Myles Gaskin was not in uniform Saturday.
Fantasy Impact of a De’Von Achane Injury
Before we jump to any conclusions about the severity of Achane’s injury, remember that in preseason and training camp, the cart is used much more liberally. In this case, Achane fell hard on his left shoulder, jogged to the sidelines, got checked out by trainers, and then took the cart to the locker room.
He wasn’t carted off because he couldn’t walk. Achane was clearly third on the depth chart behind Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson. At this point, we can presume he will not play in the team’s final preseason game. That will undoubtedly limit his chances of earning a fantasy-relevant role.
If Achane is forced to miss regular-season action, this would give a slight bump to the fantasy values of Mostert and Wilson, as Achane was likely slated for a 15-25% role in this backfield.
With him on the shelf — if that is the case — I expect it to be only Mostert and Wilson seeing any meaningful work. This will be the case for as long as Achane is out. I am not going to move Mostert or Wilson in my rankings, but if Achane is going to miss a few weeks, I will have no choice but to lower him.
– PFN Fantasy Analysts Jason Katz