Dolphins sign Carlos Washington Jr. And elevate two defenders for Minnesota

Saturday, October 3 update

Miami signed Carlos Washington Jr. from the practice squad to its active roster Saturday, adding a third running back before Sunday's game at Minnesota. The Dolphins also elevated defensive lineman Mazi Smith and edge Rodney McGraw for the game.

Washington joins Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II in the backfield after De'Von Achane's season-ending knee injury. The Dolphins' announcement confirms a permanent active-roster signing rather than a standard elevation, giving Miami another running back available for the Vikings game.

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David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported that Washington was competing with practice-squad back Jarquez Hunter for the addition. Coach Jeff Hafley said Friday that both had practiced well and that the team might eventually need both. Saturday's transaction identifies Washington as the player added for this week.

Hafley described the two reserves as similar options who can catch passes and handle pass protection. Those comments explain the duties Miami considered while adding depth behind Wright and Gordon. They do not establish a workload for Washington or change the two backs already ahead of him in the group.

Washington initially signed with Miami May 21 and spent part of the offseason program and training camp with the Dolphins. He has appeared in two NFL games, both with Atlanta across the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He originally entered the league with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and also spent time on their practice squad.

The defensive additions address separate parts of Miami's front. Smith joined the practice squad September 1 after three seasons with Dallas and the New York Jets. The Dolphins list him with 42 career appearances, 20 starts, 57 tackles and two sacks. Furones reported that Miami was adding tackle depth while Kenneth Grant remained on injured reserve.

McGraw signed with Miami as an undrafted rookie in May after finishing his college career at Western Michigan. He recorded eight sacks and 11 tackles for loss over his final two college seasons. His elevation gives the Dolphins another edge option with Rob Beal Jr. ruled out Friday because of a hamstring injury, according to Furones.

The running-back signing and defensive elevations are completed transactions before the trip to Minnesota. Washington strengthens the roster behind Wright and Gordon; Smith and McGraw add choices along the defensive front. Miami has not announced starting assignments or snap counts for the additions.

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Earlier reporting retained; Saturday status above supersedes earlier availability

De'Von Achane's season is over after he tore an ACL in Sunday's loss to Kansas City, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday. The Dolphins have not yet issued their own detailed diagnosis. Their running back left the 24-10 home defeat during the opening drive and did not return, ending his afternoon after three carries for 17 yards.

Achane had been the focal point of Miami's ground game through the first two weeks. He carried 20 times for 74 yards at San Francisco in Week 2, according to his NFL game log. The club gave him a four-year, $64 million extension this offseason, NFL.com reported. Monday's news therefore changes more than one week's lineup: Miami must replace his speed and his share of the offense through the rest of a season that has started 0-3.

Schefter's Monday report on X said Achane would miss the rest of 2026. The injury itself occurred Sunday, so the ACL diagnosis is the new development. Miami's official recap says he was hurt on the 17-play opening possession, a drive that ended with Ollie Gordon II's three-yard touchdown run. Coach Jeff Hafley had said after the game that the early outlook was discouraging, as NFL.com reported.

Gordon handled the larger workload once Achane was out. The Dolphins' recap credits him with 17 carries for 41 yards, and the NFL's player page records the touchdown plus three catches for 14 yards. Those numbers establish what happened against the Chiefs; they do not settle how Miami will divide the backfield in Week 4. The team also has Jaylen Wright, but no official post-injury depth chart has been announced.

Miami visits Minnesota on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 4:05 p.m. Eastern, according to the team's schedule. Gordon has already shown he can take a full game's worth of relief carries. The next practice week should provide the first useful evidence of whether he will handle the lead role or share it with Wright.