Malik Willis’ status is suddenly one of the biggest things to watch as the Miami Dolphins turn the page from their Week 9 loss to the Detroit Lions.
Willis’ performance against Detroit was uneven, but the more obvious issue showed up in the way he moved. A quarterback whose rushing ability has been a major part of his game entered the weekend ranked second in QB rushing yardage, yet he looked limited almost every time he tried to escape the pocket. He gave up easy yards to run to the sideline, didn’t take off nearly as often, and was clearly bothered in the second half.
After the game, Willis was asked whether his groin was a factor. “It was tight,” Willis replied and did not elaborate. That alone makes this a situation worth tracking heading into Week 10.
The Dolphins now get the Colts, and on paper it’s a game Miami should like. Indianapolis is in the middle of a fire sale, and by the time kickoff arrives, the Colts may not even have running back Jonathan Taylor or wide receiver Joshua Downs available. Miami, though, may have its own quarterback question to sort through first.
So far, the Dolphins haven’t offered much on the issue. The first real update should come when they release their initial injury report of the week, and Willis is expected to be on it. It would be surprising if he were doing much more than warm-up passes at that stage.
By Friday, there should be a clearer picture of whether Willis is ready to go against the Colts. The fact that he finished the game against the Lions suggests he could still be in line to start, but his mobility is the real concern.
That matters because Miami needs what Willis does best. His legs help create plays outside the pocket, and without that burst, he has to be much more careful with what he sees downfield. Throwing into tight coverage while on the move is a dangerous game.
Right now, Willis’ best trait may be the one most affected by the groin issue. He was against the Lions, and the Dolphins have to be careful not to make it worse.
If rest is the answer, Miami should take it. Kyle McCord isn’t a great option, but he is the only option they have at this time.
In Other News...
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The Dolphins 2021 draft maneuvering is back in the conversation after Jacksonville added another familiar name to its defensive front. Miamis decision to move up for Jaylen Waddle instead of sitting at No. 12 set off a chain of picks that eventually helped the Eagles land Jordan Davis, and that thread now loops back again because Davis has since been dealt to the Jaguars, where he joins Davon Godchaux.
For Miami, it is a reminder that draft-day choices rarely stay in one lane. The Dolphins could have kept the first-rounder that became part of the path to Davis, but they chose a different route in pursuit of Waddle and have lived with the ripple effects ever since. Even as the roster has evolved, the team has shown it is not eager to part with certain pieces near the trade deadline, a sign that the front office is still weighing present needs against the kind of long-view decisions that keep resurfacing years later. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Suddenly Have A Quarterback Decision That Could Define This Stretch
The Dolphins quarterback room has been thrown into a sudden reset, with Malik Willis headed to injured reserve after a groin injury and the team already moving to its next option. Miami has been sorting through alternatives in the background, including Brady Cook on the practice squad and a series of tryouts for additional arms, but it has not added another passer yet.
Kyle McCord is now the name to watch after arriving from Green Bay, giving Miami a new direction at the position as it tries to steady the offense through this stretch. The move leaves the Dolphins with a clear next step, even if the longer-term picture remains unsettled and the team is still weighing whether more help is coming. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Face A Week 10 Reality That Could Shift Fast
The Dolphins head into Week 10 with a matchup against the Colts that feels bigger than a single Sunday, even if the betting market has Indianapolis as the slight favorite. Both teams are sitting in a spot where the trade deadline looms just as large as the game itself, and the next stretch could say as much about their long-term direction as it does about the standings.
For Miami, the timing matters because the Colts are not operating with a clean future asset base after a previous deal sent away their own first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Add in the fact that both clubs are expected to be active sellers, with several players already circulating in trade chatter, and this game could become one of those midseason pivot points where a result on the field and movement off it start to shape each roster in real time. [Read more 🡒]