For some players, the preseason is often more about making the roster than winning a starting spot. However, the Miami Dolphins have been so impressed with Isaiah Pead that he could end up being their #1 running back come week 1.
In the preseason, Pead has been their best performer. He ran for 98 yards in the two games, averaging 10.9 yards per carry so far, including a 45-yard run in the loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He even got some snaps with the first team, which suggests the Dolphins could be pushing him up the depth chart, which is always a fickle thing when running backs are concerned, maybe the most volatile position for so-called guaranteed starters. Pead even had a 30-yard reception in the second preseason game.
The 26 year old hasn’t done much in his NFL career, a 2nd round draft pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2012, coming out of Cincinnati. He has a total of 78 rushing yards and 94 receiving yards, getting only 33 touches overall, still waiting to score his first NFL touchdown, either in the offense or as a return man.
Pead is competing with Jay Ajayi, Arian Foster, Damien Williams and Kenyan Drake for a spot in the roster and depth chart positioning, while Daniel Thomas seems to be safe heading into the season, but nothing is guaranteed.
Drake is struggling with a hamstring injury and hasn’t touched the ball in weeks. With the Dolphins probably taking four running backs into the season, right now, despite low expectations when training camp began, Pead looks like one of the players who’ll be part of the roster, and maybe a lot closer to starting for the Dolphins than anyone imagined, even Pead himself.