With injuries piling up in the Miami Dolphins backfield, the team signed former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Anthony McFarland, Jr. on Monday.

Chris Brooks left Saturday’s preseason game against the Washington Commanders shortly after completing a 59-yard run and is in concussion protocol. Rookie Jaylen Wright, Salvon Ahmed and Jeff Wilson, Jr. did not play in the second preseason game.

The Dolphins were so thin at the end of the game against Washington that they used rookie free agent wide receiver Je’Quan Burton as a running back.

It’s unclear who will be available for the team’s final preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night at Raymond James Stadium, especially given that head coach Mike McDaniel likely wants to sit out Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane.

Although he hasn’t performed as well as he’d like, McFarland could be a good fit for the Dolphins’ offense if he sticks around for a while. Pittsburgh Steelers On SI editor Noah Strackbein offered this as a scouting report.

“Even though Anthony McFarland was unsuccessful in Pittsburgh, there was plenty of talent for the coaches to try out. He is best described as quickness and versatility, as he is a capable runner and pass catcher both out of the backfield and on the perimeter. To his list of skills, you can also add that he is a capable kick returner.

“He grew with each season he was in Pittsburgh, and if he hadn’t suffered a knee injury his final season, he likely would have remained a part of the offense and special teams. Unfortunately, he was never able to stay healthy and his inconsistent availability eventually led to his departure. Today, he likely has some strength left in the tank and is a great fit for a fast-paced offense that expects its running backs to do multiple things at once.”

McFarland was drafted in the fourth round by the Steelers out of Maryland in 2020. McFarland ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash during a pre-draft workout, making him more than a little surprising.

McFarland has appeared in 17 games for the Steelers, rushing for 146 yards on 42 carries. He also caught 11 passes for 87 yards and no touchdowns. He averaged 27.3 yards on six kickoff returns last season.