The Miami Dolphins are changing quarterbacks. Miami placed Malik Willis on injured reserve Tuesday after an MRI showed his groin injury had turned into a core muscle injury, The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reported. The team announced the move shortly before 4 p.m. ET.
Second-year quarterback Kyle McCord will make his first career start Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, per Pelissero.
Malik Willis injury update
Willis will miss at least four games, which makes Week 14 the earliest he can return, according to ESPN. Pelissero reported the injury is not season-ending, and Miami expects him back before the year is over, per RotoWire.
This didn’t come out of nowhere. Willis had been getting treatment on his groin for the past two weeks, ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques reported. It didn’t keep him out of practice, but it showed up on Sundays. He ran for single-digit yards in back-to-back games, which is a red flag for a quarterback whose legs are a big part of his game.
The Monday MRI settled it.
How Willis played this season
This was Willis’ first year as a full-time starter. The Dolphins signed him to a three-year, $67.5 million deal in the offseason after two seasons as a backup with the Green Bay Packers, according to ESPN.
Through his starts, Willis has completed 58.2% of his passes for 1,396 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions, per Pro Football Talk. He’s also run for three touchdowns.
Now the Dolphins have to get by without him for at least a month.
Who is Kyle McCord?
McCord entered the league in 2025 as a sixth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, Pro Football Talk noted. The Dolphins acquired him from the Packers, according to ESPN.
He has never played in a regular-season NFL game, per Pro Football Talk. Behind him, Miami has Brady Cook on the practice squad.
That’s a tough spot for any young quarterback. McCord will make his debut on the road in a stretch that runs through Indianapolis, Buffalo, the New York Jets and Denver before Willis can come back, according to The Sporting News.
Colts matchup
The first test might be the friendliest one. The Colts just lost 27-23 to Dallas in Week 9, as we covered in our Cowboys-Colts recap, and they spent deadline week selling veterans. Indianapolis traded receiver Josh Downs to the Chiefs and Keenan Allen to the 49ers on Tuesday.
After that, it gets harder. The Bills, who just traded for NFL interception leader Amani Hooker, are next on the schedule.
More bad news in Miami
Willis wasn’t the only starter Miami lost Tuesday. The Dolphins also placed defensive tackle Zach Sieler on injured reserve, and he’ll miss the rest of the season with a ruptured biceps, ESPN reported. Miami also waived cornerback Reese Taylor, per Pro Football Talk.
Fantasy football take
McCord is a stay-away in most leagues for now, even against a rebuilding Colts team. Dolphins pass catchers take a hit with an untested quarterback under center. Willis managers can stash him on IR if their league allows it. For other options this week, check our Week 10 start/sit guide.
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