Dolphins claim Kaytron Allen off waivers from Washington

The Miami Dolphins announced on Friday that they have claimed running back Kaytron Allen off waivers from the Washington Commanders. The move gives Miami an additional option in its backfield while Allen continues his transition from college production to the pro game. Waiver claims typically report both immediate roster need and a belief that a player can fit a team’s run-game plans.

Allen has appeared in four career NFL games for Washington this season, according to the Dolphins’ announcement. He has recorded 12 rushing attempts for 41 yards, an average of 3.4 yards per carry, in those appearances. While the stat line is modest, it represents real game experience in an NFL regular-season environment and gives the Dolphins a baseline on which to evaluate him.

Before reaching the NFL, Allen played collegiately at Penn State from 2022 through 2025, where he built a résumé that stood out for both volume and productivity. Over his college career, he appeared in 54 games with 24 starts. His rushing totals at Penn State included 4,180 yards on 769 attempts, a 5.4-yard average, and 39 touchdowns.

Allen also contributed as a receiver in college. The Dolphins noted that he caught 70 passes for 490 yards and four additional touchdowns. His overall impact translated into recognition across national voting, with second-team and third-team All-America honors in 2025, reflecting his status as one of the top backs in the country that season.

In the Dolphins’ announcement, Allen’s Penn State career is also framed through program milestones. He finished as the program’s all-time leader in rushing yards (4,180) and rushing attempts (769). The team added that he ranked third in rushing touchdowns (39) and fifth in all-purpose yards (4,711), numbers that underline how central he was to Penn State’s offense over multiple years.

The Dolphins’ claim places Allen in a new room and a new system, and it raises practical questions for how quickly he can translate his style and decision-making to the NFL level. Miami now has the right to add him to its active roster (or otherwise account for him according to team procedures), while Washington no longer holds his contractual rights. For Miami, it is a roster move that suggests they want more depth and competition at running back.

What to watch next is how the Dolphins evaluate Allen in practice and how quickly he can earn reps if the coaching staff believes he offers a fit for their blocking schemes and running lanes. With Allen arriving after limited but meaningful regular-season action, his early usage will likely hinge on whether the team sees the same balance of explosiveness and reliability that defined his college production. The early weeks after a waiver claim can be telling for role, workload, and whether a player becomes part of the rotation as the season develops.