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.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Lionel Messi scored twice in a four-goal second half, defender Telasco Segovia added a goal and two assists and defending champion Inter Miami CF rallied to beat Orlando City SC 4-2 on Sunday night, winning for the first time at Inter&Co Stadium.
Messi took a pass from Segovia and scored in the 57th minute to tie it 2-2, and Segovia scored unassisted in the 85th for the lead. Messi put the finishing touch on the victory when he scored off a free kick in the 90th.
“The victory belongs exclusively to the players,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the game. “In the second half, they were a championship team. There were no tactics, nothing like that. There was heart, courage, possession, resilience, commitment. I think the team came out because they were champions last year.
“In the end, the players showed it. This victory is theirs.”
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Messi’s first two goals of the season give him 52 in his first 55 regular-season MLS matches — 51 of them in his past 49 appearances. It also brought the reigning MLS MVP to 898 career goals scored, including 672 for Barcelona and 115 for Argentina.
“He’s the best player to ever play this sport. He’s a leader, and as a leader, he inspires others, but he also often needs to be inspired himself,” Mascherano said of Messi. “When he was driving forward, he had more attacking options, and with so many opportunities, he clearly has the ability to create chances like no one else, and that’s what allowed us to turn the game around.”
Marco Pašalić took a pass from Iván Angulo and scored in the 18th minute to give Orlando City a 1-0 lead. Pašalić has scored in four straight matches against Inter Miami.
Inter Miami players celebrate after scoring a goal against Orlando City in MLS.
Defender Griffin Dorsey set up Martín Ojeda for a goal six minutes later for a 2-0 advantage that stood through halftime.
Inter Miami cut it to 2-1 four minutes into the second half on Mateo Silvetti’s first career goal. Defenders Segovia and Facundo Mura had assists as the 20-year-old forward found the net in his fifth career appearance.
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Segovia had eight goals and six assists as a rookie last season, while Mura collected his first assist in his first season.
Dayne St. Clair, the reigning goalkeeper of the year, turned away three shots — all in the second half of his second start with Inter Miami, but let in a soft goal for Orlando’s first.
Maxime Crépeau had four saves in his second start for Orlando City.
Teenager Colin Guske, 19, will miss Orlando City’s next match after the rookie picked up two yellow cards in his first start — the second one led to his exit in the 88th minute.
Inter Miami, which had never won in its previous nine trips to Orlando, was coming off a 3-0 road loss to LAFC.
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Orlando City swept Inter Miami during the regular season last year and leads the all-time series 8-7-4.
Inter Miami plays D.C. United on Saturday at Audi Field. Orlando City is also on the road with a match against New York City FC.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this recap.
Rain floods Miami Beach streets, cut short Miami Heat Family Festival
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Much-needed rain fell across South Florida on Sunday, but the downpour quickly led to flooding and traffic headaches.
“The drainage systems aren’t the best but in ten minutes it will be gone,” one person said.
The rain lasted longer than 10 minutes, flooding several spots along Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.
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In one neighborhood, at least a foot of water blocked the entrance. Drivers who attempted to pass through sent waves crashing onto nearby sidewalks.
The heavy rain also snarled traffic on parts of Interstate 95 and on the bridges to and from Miami Beach, slowing drivers trying to get around the area.
“It’s Miami for you. What do they call it, a sun shower?” one driver said.
The weather disrupted Sunday plans for many. The 26th annual Miami Heat Family Festival was cut short after strong winds swept through Dan Paul Plaza, knocking over several tents.
There is no word yet on how or when the Miami Heat plan to make up the family festival.
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Brett Knese
Brett Knese joined the Local 10 News team as a general assignment reporter in March 2025.
Jack and Jill of America’s Miami chapter closed out Black History Month with an inaugural “Roots Across Waters” trip to Nassau, where families explored ancestral sites, honored the Bahamian labor that helped build early Miami, and donated Afro‑Caribbean children’s books to local students.
