Dolphins Place Malik Willis on Injured Reserve; Kyle McCord in Line for First Start

The Miami Dolphins’ 2026 season has become increasingly focused on growth, development, and evaluating what pieces of the roster can contribute to the team’s future. Now, Miami will get an opportunity to evaluate another quarterback after Malik Willis was placed on injured reserve.

Willis, who joined the Dolphins this offseason after spending time with the Green Bay Packers, reunited with head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. The organization brought him in with hopes that he could establish himself as a long-term option at quarterback, but a lingering groin injury will sideline him for at least the next four games.

The injury became increasingly noticeable during Miami’s loss to the Detroit Lions, where Willis’ mobility was clearly limited. Known for his ability to extend plays with his legs, the injury took away one of the biggest strengths of his game.

Willis finishes this stretch of the season averaging 174.5 passing yards per game, with six touchdowns and six interceptions. Although he has shown flashes of tremendous athletic ability and delivered several exciting moments, he has struggled to find consistent production throughout the season.

With Willis sidelined, Kyle McCord will get his first opportunity to start an NFL game when Miami travels to Indianapolis to face the Colts on Sunday.

McCord has an interesting path to Miami, originally being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft before joining Green Bay and eventually being traded to the Dolphins.

The former Ohio State and Syracuse quarterback has plenty of collegiate experience. He helped lead Ohio State to an 11-1 record in 2023 before transferring to Syracuse, where he led the nation with 4,779 passing yards during his senior season.

Now, McCord gets his first opportunity to show what he can do at the professional level.

For Miami, this is an opportunity to evaluate another young quarterback and potentially uncover a piece of the future. With the Dolphins’ season trending away from playoff contention, McCord’s opportunity also adds another chapter to what some might call Miami’s “ethical tank.”

Regardless of the team’s direction, McCord has an opportunity in front of him. What he does with it could have implications well beyond Sunday’s matchup.