Dolphins' Achane leaves with a rib injury; Jets rookie QB Cook steps in for injured Taylor

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — De'Von Achane was running all over the New York Jets and headed for another huge game for Miami.

Then a rib injury knocked him out early in the Dolphins' 34-10 victory Sunday, but coach Mike McDaniel said the star running back could've returned if it was necessary.

Achane was slow to walk off the field after a 29-yard run late in the second quarter. He went into the injury tent on the sideline while Jaylen Wright replaced him as the Dolphins’ primary ballcarrier. The team announced Achane was questionable to return — but he never came back in.

“We got it looked at,” McDaniel said. "He was hurting. He was available to come back into the game in an emergency. You worry about breaks. That takes time. Didn’t see that.

“He was available to come back into the game. I chose not to put him in there.”

Achane ran for 92 yards and a touchdown on seven carries and had a 13-yard catch. He rushed for at least 120 yards in each of his previous three games and was well on his way to doing so again before he was hurt.

The Dolphins will evaluate Achane throughout the week to see if he'll be able to play against the Steelers in Pittsburgh next Monday night.

“One would hope,” McDaniel said. “I’ll push all the burden onto the trainers and push him as much as he can. The good news is, as you guys saw, we have other players to hand the ball off to as well. I promise you, he’ll be in there if he’s ready.”

Wright rushed for a career-high 107 yards and his first NFL score and rookie Ollie Gordon II also ran for a TD for Miami, which had 239 yards rushing overall while winning its fourth straight game.

Miami also lost linebacker Caleb Johnson (shoulder) in the first quarter and safety Elijah Campbell was ruled out in the third with knee and ankle injuries.

Jets rookie quarterback Brady Cook made his regular-season NFL debut when he replaced the injured Tyrod Taylor with 3:39 left in the first quarter.

Taylor left with what the Jets said was a groin injury. Coach Aaron Glenn didn't have an immediate update after the game.

“The quarterback situation, we’ll look at that going into next week,” Glenn said. “But yeah, it’s always tough when your starter goes down, it doesn’t matter who it is.”

Taylor was intercepted on a deflected pass on his last throw, which Miami took advantage of by later scoring a touchdown to take a 21-0 lead.

Cook, signed in May as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri, handed off to Breece Hall on his first two snaps and then threw incomplete to Adonai Mitchell before the Jets punted. Cook's first completion came two possessions later, a 6-yard pass to fellow rookie Mason Taylor.

With 30 seconds left in the first half, Cook also tossed his first interception when his throw for John Metchie III was picked off by Rasul Douglas deep in Dolphins territory.

Cook, who finished 14 of 30 for 163 yards and two interceptions, served as the backup to Tyrod Taylor because Justin Fields was ruled out Friday with knee soreness. There's a chance Cook could start for the Jets next week at Jacksonville.

“It was definitely a challenge, but a great challenge,” Cook said. “One that comes with the job of being the backup quarterback. I felt ready to play today and obviously I didn’t do enough to get a win.”

Cook, who threw for 9,008 yards and 49 touchdowns with 15 interceptions in five seasons at Missouri, was signed to the active roster Saturday. He had been promoted from the practice squad for two previous games this season but hadn’t played.

Cook was 25 of 38 for 235 yards and a touchdown with one interception in three preseason games.

Glenn said Mason Taylor has a stinger and fellow tight end Stone Smartt has a possible concussion. Rookie defensive end Tyler Baron was ruled out with a knee injury. Linebacker Kiko Mauigoa cleared the concussion protocol, but didn't return because of a shoulder injury.

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New York Jets quarterback Brady Cook (4) passes against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Jets linebacker Quincy Williams (56) hits Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (28) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) avoids a sack by DUPLICATE***Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Matthew Judon (8) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Jets quarterback Brady Cook (4) looks to pass against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) hands off the ball to running back De'Von Achane (28) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Quincy Williams is no joker when it comes to dressing for the occasion.

The New York Jets linebacker arrived for the team's 34-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday with his face made up to look like the comic and movie villain Joker — complete with a big painted-on red grin.

The team posted the arrival video of Williams, who smiled on his way into MetLife Stadium.

It was fitting attire for Williams with the Jets wearing their “Gotham City Football” Rivalries uniforms for the game. Williams also wore a ”Gotham City Football" bomber jacket into the stadium. The Joker, of course, is Batman's main adversary in the fictional Gotham City in the comics and movies.

It's a familiar getup for Williams, who has also dressed up as Joker for Halloween in the past. He also teased his outfit a few hours before the game by posting a clip on his Instagram Stories of Jack Nicholson playing Joker in the 1989 film “Batman.”

Williams was out of the makeup for the game, of course, and wasn't smiling much after the loss, although he had seven tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit in the game.

AFC East and NFC West teams are wearing Rivalries uniforms for select games this season, with other divisions doing the same in future seasons.

The Jets' uniforms feature matte black helmets, “Gotham Green” jerseys and pants with black and iron ore stripes. Several elements around MetLife Stadium were added for the game, including redesigned end zones — with the city skyline silhouetted below the Jets' logo — and other signage around the field and stadium.

The game was also part of “Legends” weekend for the Jets, who welcomed back 113 former players. As part of the celebration, the team honored the 25th anniversary of the “Monday Night Miracle,” when the Jets rallied to score 30 points in the fourth quarter and beat the Dolphins 40-37 in overtime.

Key members of that Jets squad, including former quarterback Vinny Testaverde and wide receiver Wayne Chrebet, served as honorary captains for the game.

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New York Jets linebacker Quincy Williams (56) celebrates victory over the Atlanta Falcons after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)