The Miami Dolphins added another running back Friday, claiming rookie Kaytron Allen off waivers from the Washington Commanders as Jaylen Wright heads into the weekend with a questionable designation.
Miami announced the move ahead of Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Washington selected Allen in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, No. 187 overall, but his first NFL stop lasted just four appearances.
Allen recorded 41 yards on 12 carries for the Commanders. He now joins a Dolphins backfield that has been working through its options since De’Von Achane’s season-ending injury.
The addition gives Miami another young runner to evaluate while its immediate depth remains unsettled. It does not establish that Allen will play Sunday or that Wright will be unavailable.
Jaylen Wright remains questionable as Dolphins add depth
Wright was limited Thursday and Friday with a foot injury, according to the Dolphins’ final injury report. His questionable designation leaves his availability unresolved entering the weekend.
Head coach Jeff Hafley sounded optimistic when asked about Wright during his Friday media availability.
“Yeah, he should be good to go,” Hafley said.
The later injury designation means Hafley’s assessment should be read as optimism, rather than a final clearance.
Earlier this week, Hafley indicated that Wright would receive more opportunities against Cincinnati. The new injury designation and waiver claim add two developments to that discussion, rather than announcing a replacement for him.
Hafley also explained Friday that he is willing to keep a productive back involved while accounting for fatigue. His approach leaves room for both riding a hot hand and using multiple runners.
“So there’s hopefully a lot of plays and you’re going to have to use multiple players,” Hafley said.
Kaytron Allen brings a record-setting Penn State resume
Allen’s NFL production is limited, but his college career gives Miami a much larger body of work to consider.
Allen finished with school records of 4,180 rushing yards and 769 carries. He scored 39 rushing touchdowns across four seasons.
His senior year included 1,303 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 210 attempts, an average of 6.2 yards per carry. That followed a 1,108-yard junior season, giving him consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns before entering the draft.
Allen also played alongside Nicholas Singleton, with both surpassing 1,000 rushing yards in 2024. Sharing a college backfield is relevant experience for a player entering another unsettled rotation, although it does not predict how quickly he will adapt to his new assignments.
Allen arrives with a chance to build a second NFL opportunity in a backfield that is still taking shape. Wright’s game status and Miami’s eventual decisions about dressing and using Allen will determine how soon that opportunity extends to Sundays.
