The Miami Dolphins made their move on Tuesday by placing starting quarterback Malik Willis on injured reserve. Placing starting quarterback Malik Willis on injured reserve comes after an MRI on Monday showed his core muscle injury had gotten worse. Coach Jeff Hafley confirmed the team’s stance on Wednesday, stating there will be no quarterback controversy while backup Kyle McCord takes over. The coaching staff wants Willis to rest so he can return healthy, but the immediate path forward belongs to McCord.
Hafley explained that he watched Willis struggle to move during the loss to Detroit in Week 9. “You look back at Malik and you watch him in that last game and you could see it,” Hafley said Wednesday, according to WPBF. He noted that Willis was gritting through the pain but could not move like he did earlier in the year. The team signed Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million deal in March, yet his health remains the biggest question mark for the franchise.
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McCord Takes The Reins
Kyle McCord is now the man under center for the upcoming matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. This summer, McCord was obtained by the Dolphins from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a future sixth-round pick. He has not taken a regular-season snap for Miami yet, but he is ready to compete. “I pride myself on just being the ultimate competitor out there on the field,” McCord said Wednesday, according to Sports Illustrated. He believes his speed in processing information and accuracy will help him succeed in his first NFL start.
Hafley was clear that he sees no debate about who starts if Willis does not return soon. “You guys will ask me,” Hafley said, “yes, he’ll be the starting quarterback if he returns.” The coach added that the team needs to get through the next four weeks to see how many games remain in the season. “I think you get through these four weeks, so it would leave four or five games left, and we’ll see,” Hafley said. This timeline will determine if the team can bring Willis back before the season ends.
A Tough Road Ahead
In his initial eight starts, Willis has thrown six touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 58.2% of passes for 1,396 yards. He showed the arm talent and mobility that brought him to Miami, but his decision-making has been inconsistent. The loss to the Lions on Sunday, Nov. 8, was ugly, with Willis throwing an interception and recording just 128 passing yards. His groin tightness during that game signaled the injury was becoming a major issue.
The Dolphins face a difficult stretch without their planned franchise quarterback. They will play the Colts on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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