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Jaylen Wright steps into the spotlight

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Jaylen Wright steps into the spotlight


The Miami Dolphins have failed to develop an effective ground game in two of Mike McDaniel’s three seasons as head coach. Miami’s rushing attack ranked seventh in 2023 but struggled in McDaniel’s first season, averaging fewer than 100 yards per game in 2022. The unit took a step back again in 2024, finishing 21st with an average of 105 rushing yards per game.

De’Von Achane is a dynamic playmaker out of the backfield, but relying on him for nearly 300 touches isn’t a sustainable strategy. The Dolphins ranked No. 22 in points per game, and their inability to sustain drives on the ground contributed to their offensive inconsistency.

As a rookie, Achane rushed for 800 yards, averaging 7.8 yards per carry, and scored ten total touchdowns after Miami selected him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The following year, Miami used another third-round pick on a running back.

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The Dolphins traded a 2025 third-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles to select Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright. While no one expected Wright to match Achane’s explosive rookie season, he struggled to find a role in Miami’s offense. Wright averaged roughly 17 yards per game and 3.7 yards per attempt. He failed to reach the end zone and ranked third in carries (68) behind Achane and Mostert, who had 85.

A dynamic back in college, Wright was Tennessee’s leading rusher for back-to-back seasons. He was named All-SEC as a junior after rushing for 1,013 yards and catching 22 passes for 141 yards.

Miami released Mostert, and Jeff Wilson Jr. will become a free agent next month, leaving Achane and Wright as the only backs currently on the roster. The Dolphins may add another back through the draft or free agency, but the spotlight turns to Wright as he prepares for his second season.

Wright’s rookie year ended on a sour note, carrying the ball six times for -4 yards on Jan. 5 against the New York Jets. His final four games included nine carries for six yards, reflecting Miami’s offensive struggles down the stretch. His lone game with double-digit carries came in Week 4 against the New England Patriots, when he rushed for 86 yards on 13 attempts.

The Dolphins’ offensive line struggled, ranking 26th in block win rate, which made it difficult for the rushing attack to find consistency. Despite his rocky rookie season, Miami has invested too much in Wright to leave him sidelined in 2025.

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At its best, McDaniel’s rushing attack can translate to Mostert’s league-leading 18 rushing touchdowns and Achane’s eight yards per carry in 2023. Miami invested significant draft capital to build the backfield to fit McDaniel’s vision, and a retooled offensive line should help unlock its potential in 2025.



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Miami, FL

Body camera footage shows fatal police shooting in Miami

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Body camera footage shows fatal police shooting in Miami


Authorities release body camera footage from fatal Miami police shooting

MIAMI — Newly released body camera footage from a 2024 deadly police shooting shows the moment officers pulled the trigger.

It happened on June 25 of last year in a home off Northeast 25th Street in Miami.

According to Miami police, a man called 911 to report his roommate, a woman identified as Mariel Rivera Samuel, was charging him with a kitchen knife.

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The man says the two don’t know one another but were renting rooms through AirBnb at the home.

When officers spoke to Samuel, she said her roommate tampered with her drink, implying that he urinated in her apple juice, according to the footage.

Officers said they were going to take Samuel to a mental health facility for a Baker Act, but she came at them with a knife.

A State Attorney’s Office close out memo said, “Rivera-Samuel came within inches of stabbing or cutting Officer Burgos.”

Police say it was then they were forced to fire.

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“According to that close out memo, the State Attorney’s Office determined the shooting was legally justified,” said Miami Police Chief Manny Morales.

The SAO said the case is officially closed.

Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.

Bridgette Matter

Bridgette Matter joined the Local 10 News team as a reporter in July 2021. Before moving to South Florida, she began her career in South Bend, Indiana and spent six years in Jacksonville as a reporter and weekend anchor.

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Bengals Dismantle Dolphins 45-21 | POSTGAME RECAP, NOTES & QUOTES

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Bengals Dismantle Dolphins 45-21 | POSTGAME RECAP, NOTES & QUOTES


MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Bengals’ defense shut down the Dolphins’ vaunted running game and then set it sights on rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers with four straight turnovers (one a fourth-and-one stop) to begin the second half in Sunday’s 45-21 victory over Miami at Hard Rock Stadium.

Quarterback Joe Burrow’s offense turned the four turnovers into four touchdowns, three of them for running back Chase Brown in a stunning third quarter that included the first career interceptions for rookie linebacker Barrett Carter and fifth-year cornerback Jalen Davis.

In leading the Bengals to their most points in a dozen years, Burrow sifted his second-best passer rating of his career at 146.5 on four touchdowns and 309 yards generated by 25 of 32 passing. And that was with 11:22 to go in the game, when he was relieved by Joe Flacco.

The turning point came on the first drive of the second half when Dolphins running back De’Von Achane’s 31-yard screen pass on third-and four was negated by an offensive pass interference call. On the next play, Bengals safety Jordan Battle put his helmet on the ball after tight end Greg Dulicich caught a 10-yarder. The ball popped out and defensive end Myles Murphy recovered at the Dolphins’ 34-yard line.

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The offense delivered in six plays, capped by a Burrow flip to Chase Brown for a nine-yard touchdown pass that made it 24-14 less than six minutes into the half.

Brown caught it at the five-yard line and spun inside to leave Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks, the NFL’s leading tackler, in the lurch on his way to scoring both through the air and ground in the same game for the third time this season.

The Bengals took a 17-14 lead late in the first half when Burrow engineered a one-minute touchdown drive, keeping it alive on third-and-10 from the Miami 38 when he escaped Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler and then flung it short across his body to tight end Drew Sample for a 27-yard gain.

Halfback Samaje Perine hammered home a four-yard touchdown run with 1:24 left in the half, and the Bengals’ defense snuffed out any hope of Miami doubling up when they received the second-half kickoff.



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Texas A&M takeaways: Aggies offense sputters in playoff loss to Miami

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Texas A&M takeaways: Aggies offense sputters in playoff loss to Miami


Battered Aggie Syndrome strikes again.

Texas A&M football’s season ended in the first round of the College Football Playoff, falling Saturday to Miami 10-3. The Aggies’ offense stood on the 5-yard line with 24 seconds left and a chance to tie the game when Hurricanes defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald intercepted quarterback Marcel Reed, ending the dream of a CFP quarterfinal against Ohio State.

MORE: Recap from Texas A&M’s College Football Playoff loss to Miami

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Texas A&M outgained Miami 326-278 in total yards of offense and ran 26 more plays. However, the Aggies lost the turnover battle three to one and failed to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them.

Here are some takeaways from Texas A&M’s loss:

Texas A&M’s inability to capitalize

After tying the game 3-3 to start the fourth quarter, Texas A&M found momentum when safety Dalton Brooks ripped the ball out of Malachi Toney’s hands with 7 minutes, 11 seconds left. The Aggies recovered the fumble at their own 47-yard line, but were unable to make anything of the field position, punting after a single first down.

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The defense had held firm for all of three quarters, allowing a field goal and holding Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck to 80 passing yards. But the offense was a different story, as untimely turnovers and inaccurate passes from Reed kept the unit from ever finding a rhythm. 

Reed’s best drive of the day came after Miami went up 10-3. With just under two minutes remaining, he led the Aggies 70 yards in 10 plays. He made quick decisions, used his legs effectively and connected with wide receiver KC Concepcion for a 14-yard completion to set up first-and-goal. But the Aggies couldn’t close out the drive.

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (10) is tackled during the round one College Football Playoff game against Miami at Kyle Field on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 in College Station, Texas.

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (10) is tackled during the round one College Football Playoff game against Miami at Kyle Field on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 in College Station, Texas.

Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman

Aggies’ run defense collapses

The Aggies allowed 38 yards rushing in the first half, stonewalling the Hurricanes’ offensive line and running back Mark Fletcher Jr. But Miami began to get its run game churning in the third quarter, rushing for 47 yards on nine attempts. An injury at the end of the period to Aggies defensive lineman Albert Regis —  one of their best run defenders — exacerbated the issue. Fletcher proceeded to rip off a 56-yard run with 4:01 remaining, which set up the game-winning 11-yard jet sweep pass to Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney.

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The Aggies allowed 91 rushing yards in the fourth quarter, despite holding the Hurricanes to 85 yards for the rest of the game.

A special teams spectacle

With winds gusting up to about 30 mph, each team’s kickers struggled to find the uprights in Kyle Field.

Aggies kicker Jared Zirkel began the day by mis-hitting a 22-yard attempt, allowing Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain to block the low-driven kick. Miami’s Carter Davis, who’d missed only two kicks all season, saw his 47-yard field goal in the second quarter fly wide right of the post. He missed attempts from 40 and 35 yards as well.

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Instead of sticking with Zirkel, A&M head coach Mike Elko turned to former starter Randy Bond, who was 11-for-18 entering the game. The kicker took advantage of his opportunity, tying the game on a 35-yard field goal despite a bad hold.

Elko dug into his bag of tricks toward the end of the second half. Aggies punter Tyler White faked a punt with less than two minutes remaining in the half, but defensive back Marcus Ratcliffe failed to bring in White’s pass.



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