Dolphins look to Ollie Gordon to fuel a revamped short-yardage attack as injuries thin the backfield
MIAMI GARDENS — Ollie Gordon isn’t just chasing a roster spot; he’s chasing a chance to answer a nagging Miami Dolphins problem with a heavy dose of physicality. The Oklahoma State product, who once needed his mother to bring his birth certificate to youth football games to prove he wasn’t too old to play, has a story that seems to mirror the moment the Dolphins find themselves in this preseason: a chance to redefine a room that lacked bite last season.
Gordon, listed at 6-1 and about 233 pounds, remembers the long road to his current NBA-size, football-first frame. “I was 15,” he recalled of the age when the paperwork drama happened. His running-back idol growing up was Derrick Henry—a player known for his physicality and toughness. “Physical, tough,” Gordon said of his mentor, a vibe he’s trying to bring to Miami’s backfield.
With the preseason behind them, the Dolphins head toward a key moment this weekend, and Gordon is positioned to move from late‑game reserve to potential starter. Injuries have tightened the competition in the backfield: De’Von Achane is out with a calf issue, Jaylen Wright left joint practices with an injury, and veteran Alexander Mattison was lost for the season in a preseason game against Chicago. Those setbacks create a pathway for Gordon to show what he can do when the pads are popping in real-game scenarios.
“I’m here to help any way I can,” Gordon said, a statement that carries extra weight now that the depth chart is thin. He didn’t shy away from acknowledging the task ahead: this is his moment to prove he can fill the role Miami wants, especially in situations that demand momentum in the running game.
Center Aaron Brewer highlighted the direct impact Gordon could have. “You’re going to feel him every time he runs,” Brewer said. “He’s putting his shoulder down, going to make every DB, linebacker, whoever trying to tackle him — they’re going to feel it every time he touches the ball.” The message from the Dolphins’ line and coaching staff is clear: Gordon’s blend of size and aggression could help balance a team that has long chased the balance between speed and power.
The Dolphins have been seeking a physical counterpart to complement the speed and finesse the offense already deploys. Last season, the team struggled to push the pile and convert short-yardage situations, finishing 28th in rushing offense and ranking last in third- and fourth-down conversions with two yards or less to gain. The interior line and backfield were named as weak links, with guards and backs failing to consistently create daylight.
To address that, Miami invested in the interior and the backfield this offseason. They added two big guards in free agency—James Daniels (6-4, 320) and rookie Jonah Savaiinaea (6-5, 326)—along with two sizeable backs in Mattison and Gordon. Gordon, a sixth-round pick from Oklahoma State, was a standout in college, leading the FBS with 1,732 rushing yards as a sophomore in 2023 before slipping a bit last season. Now he’s aiming to translate that raw power into NFL production.
On the field this preseason, Gordon has carried 18 times for 83 yards (a 4.6-yard average). Wright has shown flashes, posting a notable burst in limited opportunities. Gordon isn’t yet polished—pass protection remains a growth area for him if he hopes to stay on the field in all three-down packages—but he has shown the kind of physical presence the Dolphins have long sought. In the passing game, Gordon is also a capable option, showing reliability with 39 receptions for 324 yards in 2023 and adding 29 receptions for 219 yards last season. The balance of perspective here is important: he’s not just a battering ram; he’s a back who can contribute in the passing game as well.
Third-and-2. Fourth-and-1. For Gordon, those situations are not just downs to convert but opportunities to define his NFL identity. With the rookies and veterans around him in flux, Gordon’s chance to seize the feature-back narrative is real, and the Dolphins are counting on a healthy dose of his power to anchor a more formidable short-yardage package.
What this means for the Dolphins
– If Gordon can refine his pass protection and stay on the field for all three downs, he could become the primary short-yardage option Miami needs to complement their speed-based offense.
– The revamped interior line should help create the space Gordon needs to run with authority, setting up more favorable early-down situations.
– The broader backfield competition remains open, but Gordon now has a platform to prove he belongs in the mix as the season approaches.
Short take
– Gordon’s size, toughness, and college production give him a compelling pathway to becoming a key component of Miami’s run game, especially in short-yardage situations that haunted the Dolphins last year.
Notes for editors
– Watch Gordon in the next preseason and early regular-season games to gauge his effectiveness as a pass protector and as a consistent early-down presence.
– Monitor how the Dolphins deploy Mattison and Gordon in tandem, as well as how the line adjustments with Daniels and Savaiinaea influence run timing and gaps.
Summary
– With injuries thinning the backfield and a front office push to upgrade short-yardage capability, Ollie Gordon is positioned to answer Miami’s call for a sturdy, run-first option. If he can translate his college power to the NFL and improve his pass protection, he could become a cornerstone of a more balanced Dolphins offense.