The groin injury for Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis has worsened to the point that he will miss significant time on injured reserve.
The Dolphins placed Willis on IR, the team announced Tuesday afternoon, which will sideline him a minimum of four games.
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Willis had been receiving treatment on a groin injury the past two weeks. He ran less than usual in the Nov. 1 loss to the New England Patriots (one attempt for 2 yards) but downplayed the effect of the ailing groin.
After Sunday’s 19-9 loss to the Detroit Lions, it was indisputable. He was visibly hindered by the groin and did not run with his usual swiftness as he escaped constant pressure from the Lions defensive front. At one point, he jogged to the sideline despite having open space in front of him for additional yardage.
After the game, Willis admitted he felt the groin was tight.
According to national reports, an MRI showed the groin injury developed into a core muscle injury that requires rest.
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When Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley spoke Monday, Willis’ ailment had not yet been evaluated, so he had no update yet on the situation.
In eight starts for the Dolphins (1-7), Willis is completing 58.2% of passes for 1,396 yards, six touchdown passes and six interceptions. He has also rushed for 232 yards and three touchdowns while losing three fumbles.
The next four games, which Willis is guaranteed to miss, come against the Colts, the Buffalo Bills, the New York Jets and Denver Broncos. The earliest Willis may return is the Dec. 13 home game against the Chicago Bears.
Without Willis, the Dolphins are bound to start second-year quarterback Kyle McCord on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
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McCord was acquired via trade with the Green Bay Packers ahead of the season, as Miami moved off of Quinn Ewers, the team’s backup quarterback to Willis in training camp, due to his performance in the preseason.
McCord, a sixth-round pick out of Syracuse of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2025 draft, has not attempted a regular-season pass in the NFL, but he impressed this past preseason in Green Bay, completing 46 of 70 passes for 446 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and a 102.4 passer rating.
After McCord, the Dolphins have quarterback Brady Cook on the practice squad. He can be brought up to serve as McCord’s backup Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Willis was signed last March to a three-year, $67.5 million contract after spending the last two seasons as a backup quarterback with the Packers and his first two mostly on the bench for the Tennessee Titans. It’s decent money, but not a franchise quarterback contract, so Willis still has to prove himself in order to remain Miami’s starter in the future when healthy.
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The Dolphins also announced defensive tackle Zach Sieler’s placement on IR Tuesday, as he suffered a season-ending biceps rupture Sunday against the Lions.
Additionally, Miami waived cornerback Reese Taylor.
The team now has three open roster spots, with one likely going to a backup quarterback.
Quiet at trade deadline
As the Dolphins had ample injury news Tuesday, the NFL’s trade deadline came and went Tuesday at 4 p.m. without the team making a deal.
While Sieler’s injury took him off the table, even if general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan wasn’t bound to move him anyway, right tackle Austin Jackson, defensive end Josh Uche and other veterans remain with the Dolphins for the second half of the season.
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Jackson, a first-round pick of the team in 2020 who received an extension in 2023, was brought back this season on a restructured deal and has had struggles in pass protection against top pass rushers. Uche, who has been a rotational edge defender at previous stops, has shined with greater playing time as a starter opposite Chop Robinson on the Miami defensive line.
Around the league, there was movement ahead of the deadline, some of it affecting the Dolphins indirectly.
The Indianapolis Colts, Miami’s opponent at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, did not strike a deal to move off of All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor. The elite rusher is bound to play against Miami.
The Dolphins won’t see veteran wide receivers Keenan Allen or Josh Downs on Sunday, though, as the Colts sent Allen to the San Francisco 49ers and Downs to the Kansas City Chiefs. With Indianapolis rebuilding, the team previously moved on from All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson and Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
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The Buffalo Bills made a trade to acquire Tennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker.
As the Minnesota Vikings were looking for a quarterback, they brought back their former starter Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders. It sets up No. 1 pick and Miami native Fernando Mendoza to make his first start for the Raiders.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
