3 top Miami Dolphins players that stood out against the Jets
By Matt Serniak
![Duke Johnson Miami Dolphins (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images) Duke Johnson Miami Dolphins (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fphinphanatic-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F08-2F1359883331-850x560-a1cf303fd4cff5ba29ed22e2c5019e4879e9eef37bb838329b8dff382b4e29f2.jpg)
Thank God/Universe that the Miami Dolphins called that guy amiright? Without Duke Johnson having his best day as a professional football player, the Dolphins, probably, don’t win yesterday. Myles Gaskin is not capable of having a game like that and Salvon Ahmed I don’t even think logged a single snap.
In fact, Gaskin ran better as a pure number two running back. He had 10 carries for 54 yards and seemed to sense things happen better than usual unless he was being used as a short-yardage back something that should never happen again.
The story is Duke Johnson. Duke, hearing his name being echoed throughout Hard Rock Stadium, ran with power another thing the Dolphins don’t ever have out of their running backs, vision, and a nose for the endzone.
YESSIR, @DukeJohnson_8! 😤
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 19, 2021
📺: Watch #NYJvsMIA on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/kihpijraHb
Duke had 107 yards on 22 carries and also had a catch that went for 20 yards. He’s well-rested and primed to be a difference-maker for the rest of the quest towards the playoffs so much so that the Dolphins just made it official. Duke Johnson is on the active roster.
One day after running for 102 yards and two touchdowns, RB Duke Johnson is being signed to the Miami Dolphins’ active roster, per his agent @DrewJRosenhaus.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 20, 2021
Great for Duke Johnson. Great for all of us who have pined for a running back that could actually break an arm tackle and not go down on first contact. Duke ran with a sense of pride that hasn’t been seen in a Dolphin’s running back since Jay Ajayi. His cuts were sound and deliberate and he knew when to lower the shoulder(perhaps Tua taught him) and get what he could. Keeping the death by 1000 cuts Dolphin’s offense on schedule is paramount here.
Now, you team Duke up with the return of Phillip Lindsay with Myles Gaskin being sprinkled in and you might have something there for now at least.
The Saints are the realest defense the Dolphins will face all year. They’re going to need all hands on deck to keep drives going and to churn out first downs. All three of these running backs are going to need to deliver even when it’s not working well. Should be fascinating to watch unfold.
Enjoy your holiday week, be merry, and let’s ride this wave as long as we can.
The whole world needs to see Christian Wilkins hit the worm after catching a TD. What a gem. pic.twitter.com/nKAfhIbZ7F
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 19, 2021