New Dolphins Tailback Jake Funk Replaces Darrynton Evans

The Miami Dolphins backfield lost one of its speedsters to another NFL team, then added his replacement.

The Chicago Bears signed Darrynton Evans off Miami's practice squad, having the tailback who has been with the Dolphins since the start of the regular season return to the franchise he played for last season.

To replace Evans on Miami's practice squad, which serves as a 16-player developmental unit, the Dolphins signed Jake Funk, a 2021 seventh-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams.

The former Maryland standout was released by the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, and when he cleared waivers the Dolphins signed him after working out a series of backs, which included James Huntley, a former New Mexico standout who has been on four NFL teams since the Detroit Lions selected him in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft, and Hassan Hall, a Georgia Tech product who spent training camp with the Cleveland Browns, and was a member of Cleveland's practice squad until late September.

Funk, who is 5-10, 205 pounds, played in four games this season, gaining 10 yards on two carries. He also caught one pass for 12 yards. He's previously served as a kickoff returner during his 2021 tenure with the Rams.

Dolphins adding to backfield

The Dolphins would benefit from adding a returner at this stage in the season because of a knee injury Braxton Berrios has been nursing since last week, and the fact De'Von Achane, the rookie sensation whose 460 rushing yards has him ranked second in the NFL, suffered a knee injury during last Sunday's 31-16 win over the New York Giants.

Achane's practice participation will likely be limited this week, if he's not shut down for a couple of weeks while the undisclosed knee issue gets addressed. Whether the Dolphins will place him on injured reserve, which would sideline him for at least four weeks, hasn't been determined.