The Miami Dolphins are making a change in their backfield, and Jaylen Wright is taking center stage with calm and respect.
Heading into 2025, the sophomore is expected to be a solid contributor on a team hoping to bounce back from a turbulent year.
Jaylen Wright Set To Make Presence Known in 2025 Season
Miami’s running back room has changed noticeably since Jeff Wilson Jr. and Raheem Mostert left the team. Mostert, the team’s top rusher in 2023, signed with the Las Vegas Raiders after being cut loose in February to free up cap money, while Wilson Jr. remains unsigned. Wright is prepared to assist in filling the leadership void left by the departures of both players.
The 2024 draft pick is entering his second NFL season, and the pace is picking up. After getting his first taste of the league last year, he’s now expected to make a significant leap, not only on the field, but as a leader in the locker room.
“Those guys are really good guys to me,” Wright said during a recent appearance on “Good Morning Football.” “Especially Jeff [Wilson]. I look up to him; he showed me the way. Just not having them makes me step up more into a leader role in the running back room. Just meeting, playing my cards right, stepping up when I need to, going in and off the field.”
.@MiamiDolphins RB @__jw12 joins the show to tell us his fastest teammate and give us expectations for the 2025 season. #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/ZHM4jwrcB8
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) July 16, 2025
Although it wasn’t the most polished comment, it was honest and sincere from a young man attempting to do things the right way and assuming a larger responsibility. Wright’s willingness to step up and his appreciation for the veterans who came before him are clear.
Miami Dolphins Running Back Core Has a New Look
De’Von Achane is anticipated to take the lead once more as the Dolphins’ starting running back, but Wright is just behind him. He offers physicality and lightning-fast speed, but perhaps more significantly, he adds hunger. Wright has been in the system, and coaches trust him, but the Dolphins also added youngster Ollie Gordon II and veteran Alexander Mattison this offseason.
Wright is exciting not just because he might see more carries, but because of how he’s approaching the situation. He’s not acting like he has all the answers — he’s staying humble, listening, learning, and working through things on his own. That mindset stands out.
Wright has an opportunity to establish himself in a more significant role during the 2025 season. He has the ability and motivation. Now that he has a clear route ahead of him, he is prepared to establish himself as a leader and a playmaker.
