Will Dolphins give rookie phenom De’Von Achane larger workload? Plus, Jaelan Phillips, Connor Williams injury updates

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins have a decision to make on whether to give rookie running back De’Von Achane a greater share of the backfield workload.

Veteran Raheem Mostert has remained the starter while Achane has gone off for the first back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances by a Dolphin since Kenyan Drake did it in 2017.

Achane burst onto the professional scene with his 203 yards and four total touchdowns Sept. 24 against the Denver Broncos. He followed it up with 101 yards and another two touchdowns on just eight carries Sunday against a tough Buffalo Bills defense. Meanwhile, Mostert was held to 9 yards on seven carries and fumbled twice, losing one for a turnover.

Will Achane’s success translate to him getting a starter’s ratio of touches? The Dolphins feel they have a deep running back room with Achane, Mostert, Salvon Ahmed, Chris Brooks and Jeff Wilson Jr. eligible to return off injured reserve when he’s ready.

“It’s good problems to have when you have a room with such depth,” Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith said Thursday. “Basically, we look at every week like, all players, what are we asking them, what do they do well, putting them in positions to be successful. The great thing is, that whole group, they’re so professional with what they do, their approach. I think, ultimately, each week, that’s the challenge when you have a group that’s that deep. How do you use them? Like all things, when you have a group that deep, you start playing a couple of them at a time.”

After the Buffalo game Sunday, coach Mike McDaniel said it would be in consideration this week.

“I’ll take a look at the tape before I hesitate to crown anybody,” he said Sunday. “He’ll continue to have a role, for sure, for our offense moving forward. What does that look like in terms of ratios and touches? That will be something that I would be remiss if I didn’t wait to see the tape before making judgments like that.”

Achane had 39 offensive snaps to Mostert’s 28 against the Bills. The previous week, Mostert outsnapped Achane 37-30, while Achane touched the ball on 22 of his plays against Denver. Both games, though, got out of hand late.

“With De’Von, it’s all about your approach and how do you handle the process and the volume,” Smith said. “How do we as coaches make sure the progression comes on in the right way so that you can grow and develop appropriately?”

Smith also touched on center Liam Eichenberg’s start against the Bills in place of starter Connor Williams.

“Your first game playing a new position is at Buffalo playing against the reigning division champion,” Smith said. “The guys who have the right internal process, they’re always going to remember the one play, two plays, the handful of things they know they can improve. What about the rest of the body of work that you did really well on? Ultimately, when you’re playing center for the first time in an environment like that, was it perfect? No. But there was plenty of things we can build upon.”

Injury updates

The Dolphins had Williams (groin) and outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips (oblique) remain limited at Thursday’s practice as they look to return to the lineup against the New York Giants on Sunday.

Increasing his practice participation from limited to full on the team’s Thursday injury report was safety DeShon Elliott, who is dealing with a groin ailment. Wide receiver Braxton Berrios (knee) also improved from limited to full.

Left tackle Terron Armstead was the only Miami player on the active roster that didn’t participate in practice Thursday as the team determines whether his latest left knee injury will lead to an injured reserve stint. Mostert and cornerback Justin Bethel returned to practice Thursday after veteran rest days Wednesday.

Cornerback Nik Needham and offensive lineman Robert Jones had another limited practice as they are within a three-week window to practice before they are activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list and IR, respectively. Lineman Lester Cotton remained limited Thursday after hurting his ankle in practice Wednesday.

The Giants had three offensive linemen — left tackle Andrew Thomas (hamstring), center John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) and guard Shane Lemieux (groin) — miss a second straight practice. Running back Saquon Barkley was limited again Thursday as he looks to return from an ankle injury that caused him to miss the last two games.

Dolphins practice in crowd noise

Practicing in crowd noise is often done when a football team is going into a hostile road environment, but the Dolphins practiced Thursday with speakers blaring ahead of a home game at Hard Rock Stadium.

Linebacker Jerome Baker said it actually wasn’t for the offense.

“More so for the defense,” Baker said. “When we’re on defense, that’s when the crowd is super loud, and we got a lot of checks, so we need to be used to not being able to hear, put an emphasis on that.”

On some level, though, the Dolphins may be anticipating a strong showing of New York fans at Hard Rock Stadium.

Said receiver Tyreek Hill: “Just, never know what to expect.”

Welker on Ezukanma

Dolphins wide receivers coach Wes Welker reacted Thursday to the Erik Ezukanma neck injury that placed him on the non-football injury list after the second-year wideout was just coming around early this season.

“Great offseason. Good training camp,” Welker said. “It’s unfortunate that he’s not there right now, but he’s progressing well and continuing to own the offense and everything else. Right now, just trying to get back out there and get back on the field.”

McDaniel said last week the team was looking into a potential aggravation of a pre-existing neck ailment Ezukanma had in college before he was drafted.