Aggies RB De'Von Achane Carted Off Against Texans
HOUSTON -- When former Texas A&M running back De'Von Achane was selected by the Miami Dolphins, those inside the building figured he'd carve out a role in the backfield and on special teams.
His status for the regular season now could be in question.
Achane was carted off with an apparent shoulder injury during Saturday's preseason game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. The former Aggies tailback predominantly worked with the second-team offense and served as the Dolphins' kick returner.
"We'll find out more tomorrow," Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said of Achane following a 21-3 win.
Reps were limited for the Achane, a Missouri City native and product of Fort Bend Marshall, during the first quarter. After starters were benched for the remainder of the game, he began splitting carries with Salvon Ahmed.
Achane's best play came with 10:03 remaining in the first half. Facing a third-and-14, the former Aggie, known for his home run-caliber speed, broke through the line of scrimmage for a gain of 20 and a fresh set of downs.
He finished the half with six carries for 27 yards and two targets in the passing game. Last week against the Atlanta Falcons, Achane led Miami in both receptions (4) and receiving yards (41) while rushing for 25 yards on 10 carries.
Drafted 84th overall, Achane's preseason has been met with mixed results. Dolphins running back coach Eric Studesville praised Achane at the start of training camp for being a "really smart guy" but added he still needs to show more to prove his worth as a complete back.
Veterans Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert mentioned that while he's still a work in progress, they've seen growth since OTAs.
"He's going to be great," Wilson said via the Palm Beach Post. "I want to give him every tool he needs to be great. He's learning the game fast."
Achane wasn't expected to compete for starting reps out of the gate with Wilson and Mostert, but Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier viewed his track speed as an asset on special teams. Achane served as A&M's primary kickoff return specialist during his final two years in College Station, returning a kick for a touchdown in both 2021 and 2022.
Scouts were impressed with Achane's straight-line speed when he posted a 4.32 40-time at the NFL Scouting Combine, the fourth-fastest time for a running back in league history. Achane also showed off his versatility, totaling 65 catches for 554 yards and 5 TDs during his three seasons with the Aggies.
Achane first made headlines in Miami with his Orange Bowl MVP performance against North Carolina when he rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns. In his final year with the Aggies, the 5-8 runner posted a career-high 1,102 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, including a career-best 216-yard performance in his final game against LSU.
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