The Dolphins have had plenty of success on the ground already this season, but the team will soon have another option in the backfield. Jeff Wilson is set to be designated for return, agent Drew Rosenhaus informs Josh Moser of WSVN 7. 
Wilson was placed on injured reserve at the end of August while dealing with finger and midsection injuries. That designation guaranteed at least a four-week absence to begin the campaign, but head coach Mike McDaniel‘s remarks suggested a lengthier absence may have been in store. After five missed contests, Wilson will be able to return as early as this Sunday if he is activated in the coming days.
Players have 21 days to be activated once they are cleared to return to practice. The Dolphins will thus have plenty of time to evaluate Wilson this week before deciding if will be immediately be brought back into the team’s RB rotation. A role of some kind will no doubt await the 27-year-old when he is able to suit up, though, as he will look to continue the success he had in Miami last season and carry on the team’s production on the ground.
Wilson spent his first four-plus NFL seasons with the 49ers, but after their Christian McCaffrey acquisition he was traded to the Dolphins. That move saw the former UDFA log a similar workload to the one he had in San Francisco, and he averaged 4.7 yards per carry while recording 486 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns. Wilson – like fellow back Raheem Mostert – was retained in the offseason as Miami looked to maintain stability at the RB spot.
Despite having Wilson’s two-year deal on the books, the Dolphins were considered a favorite to sign Dalvin Cook, and they were suitors in a potential trade acquisition of Jonathan Taylor. In the end, though, the only main addition made at the running back spot was the selection of De’Von Achane in the third round of April’s draft, a move which has proven to be shrewd. The Texas A&M product has turned 38 attempts into 460 rushing yards, good for an absurd 12.1 yards per carry average, while scoring seven total touchdowns. He and Mostert have helped power the Dolphins to a league-leading average of 186 rushing yards per game.
Wilson will likely displace Salvon Ahmed (who has been used sparingly to date) in the lineup when he is activated. The latter entered roster cutdowns in a precarious position given the logjam of capable backs already on the team, something which led to Myles Gaskin‘s departure. It will be interesting to see how the Dolphins proceed with Ahmed once three backs are again ahead of him on the depth chart – including Achane, who is expected to handle an increased workload moving forward. Miami has its full complement of eight IR activations available at the moment.