MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins, as expected, activated Jeff Wilson from injured reserve Saturday, and he’s expected not just to play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles but play a significant role.
Wilson missed the first six games of the season due to injuries to his ribs and finger but practiced fully in the leadup to the Eagles game.
He’s healthy and ready to go — and not a minute too soon for a Dolphins offense without two of their three most productive backs.
“I’m really excited for ‘Jefe’ to come back,” said Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert, whose 11 total touchdowns led the NFL entering Week 7.
“That’s my counterpart. He gets me going.”
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Miami Dolphins Active Jeff Wilson From Injured Reserve
As of Saturday morning, Wilson was one of three Dolphins running backs on IR. The others? Rookies De’Von Achane (knee) and Chris Brooks (ankle).
History was made this week as 2 @MiamiDolphins RB's became 1st duo to win the Angry Runs scepter. Hear part of the conversation with @KyleBrandt and winners@chris_br0oks26 & @RMos_8Ball and what makes them mad off the field- For whole interview, check out ANGRY CHATS on NFL+. pic.twitter.com/mkwZAl0CeT
— David Singer (@DavidSingerNFL) October 21, 2023
The Dolphins had until Nov. 1 to either activate Wilson or keep him on IR, which would have ended his season.
Had Achane and Brooks not gotten hurt, he would have been a prime trade candidate.
Instead, he’ll presumably be the Dolphins’ RB2 Sunday night.
With Achane (who in just four games still leads the team with 460 rushing yards on 38 carries) and Brooks (third on the team with 94 yards on 15 carries) out, the Dolphins are without the players responsible for 62 of the team’s 173 running back touches in 2023.
MORE: Miami Dolphins Depth Chart
Wilson and Salvon Ahmed will need to combine to make up for those 10-12 lost touches.
Wilson will bring a physical dynamic to an explosive Dolphins ground attack. Miami as a team ranks first in rush offense (181.8 per game), yards per carry (6.5), EPA per play (.126), and success rate (48.8%).
But the Dolphins have yet to see a defense like the Eagles, who have given up the league’s second-fewest rushing yards (65.8 per game) and have allowed the sixth-best yards-per-carry average (3.6)
In 2022, Wilson was tied with Mostert for first in rushing touchdowns (three) and ranked second on the team in carries (84) and yards (28).
Wilson, 27, has 2,125 yards and 18 touchdowns on 474 carries in his career, with a success rate of 50.6%
“He’s doing great, and he was ready to go [in Week 6],” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said earlier this week. “And really, I’ve never had issues with players chomping at the bit and then being like, ‘Alright, you have to wait.’ It just means he’s going to be hungrier, and I think we’ll all benefit from when that time comes.”