Just as I’m talking with other reporters about how good Mattison has looked hammering the ball inside, he finds a lane and takes it all the way. He’s seeing it, hitting it, getting behind his pads. He’s had a nice camp and his best day occurs when the pads come on, think that’s…

— Travis Wingfield (@WingfieldNFL) July 29, 2025

When the Miami Dolphins signed running back Alexander Mattison as a free agent in March, it seemed the veteran would compete to be the team’s short-distance back.

The addition of sixth-round rookie Ollie Gordon II in the 2025 NFL draft made a roster spot an even steeper challenge for the former Minnesota Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders back. But so far in training camp, Mattison is making a surprising push to be more than a third or fourth option.

“There’s a version that people have defined [players] as, or put them in a box,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Friday. “I think Mad Dog (Mattison) is a great example of ‘No, here we allow your play to tell us who you are and how you adjust to coaching and how willing you are to invest in your game and your team.”

Mattison, 27, averaged less than four yards per carry in each of the last four seasons. But on the practice field in Miami, he’s looked like a player capable of making big plays.

Alexander Mattison’s strong camp has not lined up with all the slander coming out about him this offseason when the Dolphins signed him.

And De’Von Achane such a weapon in the pass game. https://t.co/HxVDLtW1YD

— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) July 29, 2025

Alexander Mattison runs a lot better with pads on. Wasn’t impressed in pajamas, but he’s caught my eye in pads. Runs with power and good contact balance.

— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) July 30, 2025

Alexander Mattison’s strong camp continues – he finds space behind Kion Smith with a really nice cut-back at the LOS to get free into the second level

— Travis Wingfield (@WingfieldNFL) July 30, 2025

Alexander Mattison continuing to be a problem (for the defense) when he hits the hole with conviciton.

Ollie Gordon just flashed some of his physicality on back-to-back runs. Of course, no tackling, but I don’t think defenders were bringing him down before he broke through.

— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) July 30, 2025

Last year, the Dolphins carried four running backs — De’Von Achane, Raheem Mostert, Jaylen Wright, and Jeff Wilson Jr. — on their active roster. While Achane and Wright are locks to make the roster again in 2025, it seemed possible that the Dolphins would keep only three backs.

That could still be the case, but Mattison is making himself an awfully difficult player for the Dolphins to send out the door.