NFL Preseason Week 2 Roundup: Gordon’s Case for Being RB2 in Miami

Through a pair of preseason games, rookie Ollie Gordon is the Miami Dolphins leading rusher and is just outside the top 10 in rushing yards in the league.

After a strong, versatile performance in his first preseason game, Gordon led Miami with 50 rushing yards on 10 carries in a Saturday win against the Detroit Lions. He also caught a pair of passes for nine more yards.

Although it’s probably unlikely Gordon supplants Dolphins’ starter De’Von Achane before the regular season gets going, Gordon should get some work with the ones this week. Dealing with a calf injury, Achane is expected to miss this week of practice, though Miami coach Mike McDaniel said the injury isn’t supposed to linger long after that.

So, this upcoming week should provide the Dolphins with a good look at their RB2 battle between Gordon and Jaylen Wright. Miami also signed Alexander Mattison, but he injured his neck in the first preseason game and will miss the season.

Wright was a fourth-round pick by the Dolphins in 2024 out of Tennessee. Listed at 5-foot-10, 208 pounds, Wright carried 68 times as a rookie last season, running for 249 yards.

Gordon has outproduced Wright in preseason games, and it hasn’t been particularly close.

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Gordon had a thunderous run early in the third quarter of Saturday’s win against the Lions. He burst through the hole at the line of scrimmage, striding through an arm tackle before lowering his shoulder on a Lions safety and falling forward for a 19-yard gain.

“The NFL is very physical,” Gordon said after the game. “If you don’t lower that shoulder, somebody will lower it on you. You gotta be the one to assert that, put that out there.”

At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, Gordon is capable of those physical runs, but he has a sneaky finesse to his game, as well.

Early in the fourth quarter, Gordon sliced through a pair of Lion defenders at the line of scrimmage who were perhaps waiting for him to lower his shoulder. Instead, Gordon coolly cut up field for a gain of 15 yards and 3rd-and-1.

If Gordon can have a good week of practice and stack another good preseason game on top of the two he’s already had, it’s going to be tough for McDaniel and Co. to keep him out of the Dolphins’ gameplan going into Week 1.

Pokes in the Preseason Week 2 Stats

Dalton Cooper (Chiefs) — 9 snaps, 1 pressure allowed

Tre Flowers (Bears) — 1 pass breakup

Anthony Goodlow (Cardinals) — 2 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss

Ollie Gordon (Dolphins) — 10 carries, 50 rushing yards, 2 catches, 9 receiving yards

AJ Green (Rams) — 2 total tackles, 2 pass breakups

Devin Harper (Steelers) — 1 total tackle

Chuba Hubbard (Panthers) — 2 carries, 4 rushing yards

Teven Jenkins (Browns) — 38 snaps, 0 pressures allowed

Tyler Lacy (Jaguars) — 2 total tackles

Nick Martin (49ers) — 6 total tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss

Tay Martin (Commanders) — 1 catch, 15 receiving yards

Joe Michalski (Broncos) — 43 snaps, 1 sack allowed, 1 pressure allowed

Emmanuel Ogbah (Jaguars) — 13 snaps

Amen Ogbongbemiga (Bears) — Six total tackles

Rashod Owens (Bengals) —2 catches, 13 receiving yards

Brennan Presley (Rams) — 6 catches, 102 receiving yards

Mason Rudolph (Steelers) — 3-for-5, 46 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 1 interception, 1 rush, 7 rushing yards

Josh Sills (Colts) — 21 snaps, 1 pressure allowed

Tylan Wallace (Ravens) — 6 snaps

More from Preseason Week 2

Brennan Presley makes ridiculous catch to set up game-winning score

Nick Martin records first pro sack

Presley discusses strong preseason performance