The Miami Dolphins entered the 2020 NFL season with the expectation that veteran running back Jordan Howard was going to be the team’s primary ball carrier on running downs. That’s the only explanation for why the team would have given Howard a 2-year contract worth nearly $10M in free agency this spring. But the Jordan Howard era of the Dolphins’ backfield isn’t exactly working out as initially planned — because Howard has not only ceded early down reps to both Matt Breida and Myles Gaskin but things got so far as to see Miami designate Howard as a healthy scratch in Week 5 against the 49ers.
The Dolphins promptly scored 43 points without their most expensive running back dressed for the game. So, do the Miami Dolphins have a “Jordan Howard problem”? What was the reasoning behind Howard’s deactivation on Sunday against the 49ers? And where do the Dolphins go from here?
Brian Flores shed some light on why Howard was inactive against San Francisco during his press availability on Monday.
“As for as Jordan (Howard), this is a decision we make throughout the course of the week based on game plan, based on kicking game, based on just overall numbers,” said Flores.
“We felt like that was the best – look, we’ve got to make people inactive. Jordan is competitive. He’s done a good job. Those aren’t easy decision, but we just felt like that was the best move for us in this particular game with this particular game plan.”
Howard’s production has been somewhat skewed by Miami’s complete lack of a role outside of short-yardage and the goal line in recent weeks. He’s logged 18 carries for 14 yards and three touchdowns to date. But Howard has not logged double digit snaps in any single game thus far this season for Miami. This is a versatility issue as much as it is anything else — and for that reason, forecasting Howard into a role with Miami long-term or even beyond this season is difficult. Yes, Miami has Howard under contract for two seasons. But Howard has no guaranteed money in Year 2 of the deal and as a result could be cut by Miami at the end of the year for no negative impact to the salary cap.
Unless Howard finds a reimagined role with the team over the next 11 games, that feels inevitable. Because right now, yes. The Dolphins have a Jordan Howard problem.