Dolphins RB Jaylen Wright vows patience as Ollie Gordon vies for lead role

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Dolphins RB Jaylen Wright vows patience as Ollie Gordon vies for lead role

Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post · Palm Beach Post

Thu, Oct 8, 2026 ·

3 min read

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MIAMI GARDENS ― Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright started a Week 4 game at the Minnesota Vikings .

But Wright had only five carries and Ollie Gordon II ended the 15-10 loss with nine.

"I was just trying to be intentional with my reps, just make the most of my opportunities," Wright said. "But, I mean, they went with the hot hand. I mean, Ollie was hot. So, I mean, keep giving him the ball. I mean, that's football. That's ball."

Wright appears to be an emotional player and person. Before this season Wright said he would sometimes press to make a big play when given an opportunity in 2025. Miami needs him to stay focused.

"I had to mature my mind about the game," Wright said before the season. "Like I said, control what I can control."

Wright had five carries for seven yards in the first game after De'Von Achane went down with a season-ending ACL injury. Gordon had nine carries for 100 yards, including a 53-yarder and a touchdown.

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Oct 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II (0) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Ollie Gordon, Dolphins instant takeaways after Vikings game

(Brad Rempel, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II (0) rushes for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. **Miami Dolphins overreaction Monday: Ollie Gordon RB1?**
(Brad Rempel, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II (0) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
(Brad Rempel, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 4: Ollie Gordon II carries the ball against the Minnesota Vikings during the third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 4, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
(Stephen Maturen, Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 4: Ollie Gordon II #0 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates after scoring a rushing touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 4, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
(Stephen Maturen, Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 4: Ollie Gordon II #0 of the Miami Dolphins scores a rushing touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 4, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
(Stephen Maturen, Getty Images)

Sep 27, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II (0) runs with the ball against Kansas City Chiefs safety Alohi Gilman (17) during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 27, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II (0) celebrate after a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
(Sam Navarro, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Aug 28, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) hugs with Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II (0) after the game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
(Sam Navarro, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Aug 14, 2026; Landover, Maryland, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II (0) runs with the ball as Washington Commanders cornerback Car'lin Vigers (37) makes a tackle during the second half at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
(Geoff Burke, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Aug 8, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Ollie Gordon II (0) works during practice at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
(Sam Navarro, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Miami Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon II shakes hands at the end of the joint practice with the Miami Dolphins at the Lions headquarters and training facility in Allen Park, Thursday, Aug. 14 2025
(Kimberly P. Mitchell, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Dec 7, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II (31) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Dec 7, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II (31) runs with the ball for a touchdown against the New York Jets during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
(Ed Mulholland, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon II (0) celebrates with fans after a Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. Oklahoma State won 27-24.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Oklahoma State's Ollie Gordon II (0) scores a touchdown in the first half of the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Aug., 31, 2024.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Ollie Gordon II (0) runs drills during an Oklahoma State football practice in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Oklahoma State's Ollie Gordon II (0) celebrates in the second half of the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Arkansas Razorbacks at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla.,, Saturday, Sept., 7, 2024.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Oklahoma State's Ollie Gordon II (0) is tackled by Texas's Byron Murphy II (90) and Jerrin Thompson (28) in the first half of the Big 12 Football Championship game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and the Texas Longhorns at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Surely coaches have reminded Wright there are 13 more games to play.

Ollie Gordon emerged for Dolphins in Week 4

"I mean, 13 games left, I mean, that's like a whole college season or more than a college season. It's a long season, long season," Wright said. "So, my thing is, you know, just to continue to have faith in this thing no matter what goes on, no matter what happens. I'm going to continue to have faith in God and have faith in myself, be confident in my ability that, you know, it's all going to work out and how it's planned."

Coach Jeff Hafley noted Miami has had too few offensive plays this season, including the last game.

More and longer sustained offensive drives would give Wright more opportunities.

"We just got to stay on track, stay on schedule, complete our third downs, you know, convert," Wright said.

Oct 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright (5) rushes during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Wright said he was happy for Gordon, whom he considers a "little brother."

As for what Wright needs to do the next time he's given an opportunity?

"Just trying to explode when I see a seam," he said, "and then not only that, when I get in the groove of the game, when I get in the rhythm, that's when I'm at my best because that's when it kind of slows down for me and there's no thinking and it's just going."

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Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post . You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Threads and Instagram and X at @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter . Help support our work by subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins RB Jaylen Wright vows patience as Ollie Gordon vies for lead role

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