Miami Dolphins rookie running back Ollie Gordon II scored his first career touchdown last week against the Buffalo Bills. But it’s been his work in the days following that coming out party that has head coach Mike McDaniel feeling more confident than ever in Gordon.

“You’re pretty focused on guys that have their first taste of success just to see how they respond,” McDaniel said Saturday. “I think he’s proven to his teammates that he understands what the responsibility is as an NFL player as a rookie. He has responded the exact way I’d want him to which is nothing has really changed. He has confidence in what he is doing, he always has. Each week and every practice he gets more ownership of the entirety of the offense, so I’ve been happy with where he’s been at because he’s focused on getting better.”

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Gordon, 21, entered the offseason fourth on the depth chart at running back behind returners De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright, as well as free agent addition Alexander Mattison. But when Mattison suffered a season-ending neck injury and both Achane and Wright were sidelined in the latter half of August, Gordon took advantage of his time to shine.

While Wright was healthy enough to be active in Week 3 against the Bills, the second-year back didn’t see the field at all. The emergence of Gordon has some wondering if Wright could end up on the trade market soon.

Either way, it doesn’t seem like the Dolphins are planning on diminishing Gordon’s role any time soon.

“I’ve been very excited with what he’s displaying,” Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith said of Gordon on Friday. “The physicality, really starting to learn and grow into understanding how the offense and everything that fits. He’s done a really good job so far and just excited for him this week and the rest of the season.”

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Gordon was a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft after spending three seasons with the Oklahoma State Cowboys. He earned the Doak Walker Award in 2023, recognizing the nation’s top collegiate running back, but his production trailed off during a 3-9 season for OSU in 2024.

This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins pleased with how RB Ollie Gordon II is handling early success