Miami Dolphins Lose Malik Willis to Injury... Oh and Starting Center Aaron Brewer

Kyle McCord Takes Over as Starting Quarterback… For Now

For Dolphins fans, the situation raises several questions. How badly is Willis injured? Is he finished for the season? Who exactly is Kyle McCord, and what does his football history look like? And perhaps most importantly, can Miami find some stability at quarterback while its starting signal-caller is sidelined?

The Miami Dolphins are dealing with another major setback in what has already been a difficult 2026 NFL season. Starting quarterback Malik Willis has been placed on injured reserve after a groin injury suffered during Miami’s Week 9 loss to the Detroit Lions turned out to be more serious than initially believed. The injury means Miami will have to turn to an inexperienced quarterback in Kyle McCord, who is about to get the biggest opportunity of his professional football career. Here’s what we know.

What Happened to Malik Willis?

Willis began experiencing problems with his groin during Miami’s November 8th matchup against the Detroit Lions. The Dolphins lost that game 19-9, and it was apparent that something was wrong with their quarterback. Willis appeared noticeably limited in his ability to move around the pocket, escape pressure and use his legs, which is normally one of the biggest weapons in his game. He was able to scramble on a few occasions, but he clearly wasn’t operating at full speed.

Following the game, Willis described the problem as tightness in his groin. Further medical evaluation, including an MRI, revealed that the issue had progressed into a core muscle injury. On November 10th, the Dolphins officially placed Willis on injured reserve. The important distinction is that this is not necessarily a season ending injury. Under NFL rules, a player placed on injured reserve must miss at least four games before becoming eligible to return. That means Willis could potentially return for Miami’s December 13th game against the Chicago Bears.

However, there is no guarantee he will be ready by then. Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley has acknowledged that the team is still gathering medical opinions and that surgery has not been ruled out. The organization is hopeful Willis can return this season, but his recovery timeline remains uncertain.

Dolphins in Serious Trouble

Who Is Starting at Quarterback Now?

Kyle McCord will take over as Miami’s starting quarterback beginning with the November 15th road game against the Indianapolis Colts. McCord is 24 years old and is a relatively unknown name to many NFL fans. He was originally selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft after playing college football at Syracuse. He subsequently joined the Green Bay Packers before being traded to Miami during the 2026 offseason.

McCord has yet to appear in an NFL regular season game, making this an especially important opportunity. He has spent the season working behind Willis and receiving practice repetitions, but there is a considerable difference between taking practice snaps and being responsible for an NFL offense on Sundays.

Hafley has spoken positively about McCord, describing him as decisive, confident and possessing a stronger arm than people might expect. The Dolphins coaching staff believes he is capable of running the offense. Brady Cook is expected to serve as Miami’s backup quarterback while Willis is on injured reserve.

There is also an interesting storyline here. Miami is currently 1-7, and the season has been a struggle. With Willis unavailable, McCord gets an opportunity to demonstrate whether he could be part of the franchise’s longer-term plans. It is an opportunity he probably never expected to receive this early in his NFL career.

Malik Willis: From Tennessee to Green Bay to Miami

Willis has taken an interesting route to becoming an NFL starting quarterback. He played college football at Liberty University, where he developed a reputation as an exceptionally athletic quarterback with a powerful throwing arm and outstanding running ability. His combination of speed, strength and mobility made him an intriguing NFL prospect.

The Tennessee Titans selected Willis in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was viewed as a developmental quarterback who could eventually become a starter, but he struggled to establish himself as the team’s long term answer. He spent his early professional seasons largely playing behind veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

In 2024, Tennessee traded Willis to the Green Bay Packers, where he became the backup to Jordan Love. His time in Green Bay helped rehabilitate his reputation around the league. When Love was unavailable, Willis received opportunities to start and delivered some impressive performances, demonstrating improved decision making and a better understanding of NFL offenses.

His mobility remained a major advantage, but he also showed that he could operate a passing offense more effectively than some of his earlier critics believed. That improvement helped make him an attractive free agent signing for Miami. In March 2026, the Dolphins signed Willis to a three year contract worth approximately $67.5 million. The organization was hoping he could finally establish himself as a legitimate starting quarterback and potentially become the franchise’s long-term answer at the position.

Unfortunately, his first season in Miami has been anything but smooth. Through eight starts, Willis has completed 58.2% of his passes for 1,396 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions. He has also contributed 232 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Those numbers reflect a quarterback who can make things happen with his legs but has struggled to consistently produce through the air. The injury now interrupts an important evaluation period for both Willis and the Dolphins.

Kyle McCord’s College Football History

There is actually a pretty impressive college football résumé behind McCord. Before entering the NFL, McCord spent three seasons at Ohio State, where he developed into a starting caliber quarterback. In 2023, he threw for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns while leading the Buckeyes to an 11-1 regular season record.

Following the 2023 season, McCord transferred to Syracuse, where he had arguably the best year of his college career. During the 2024 season, he threw for an incredible 4,779 yards and 34 touchdowns. His passing yardage established an ACC single-season record, and he finished among the top 10 in Heisman Trophy voting.

Philadelphia selected him with the 181st overall pick in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He subsequently spent time with the Eagles and Packers before arriving in Miami. One particularly interesting statistic is that McCord completed 46 of 70 passes for 446 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions during Green Bay’s three preseason games in 2026. That performance helped him attract Miami’s attention. The question now is whether that college production and preseason success can translate into regular season NFL football.

The Miami Dolphins’ Long History of Searching for a Quarterback

To understand why the quarterback situation in Miami is such a big deal, you have to look at the franchise’s history. The Dolphins have had some legendary quarterbacks, but they have also spent a tremendous amount of time trying to find the next guy who could lead the organization consistently.

The franchise’s first great quarterback was Bob Griese, who played for Miami from 1967 through 1980. Griese was instrumental in the Dolphins’ rise to prominence under legendary head coach Don Shula. He helped lead Miami to back to back Super Bowl championships following the 1972 and 1973 seasons, including the famous 1972 team that completed the only perfect season in NFL history. Then came Dan Marino.

Marino arrived in Miami in 1983 and quickly became one of the greatest quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen. Over 17 seasons, he threw for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns. He became the face of the franchise and established a standard that Miami has struggled to match ever since. Despite his incredible individual accomplishments, Marino never won a Super Bowl championship. His final season was 1999, and his retirement effectively began a decades long search for another franchise quarterback.

Since Marino retired, Miami has started an extraordinary number of different quarterbacks. Jay Fiedler, Ray Lucas, Brian Griese, A.J. Feeley, Daunte Culpepper, Joey Harrington, Chad Pennington, Chad Henne, Matt Moore, Ryan Tannehill, Jay Cutler, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tua Tagovailoa are just some of the names that have passed through the organization.

Tua appeared to offer some stability after being drafted fifth overall in 2020. He eventually became one of the league’s more productive passers, but injuries and inconsistency complicated his time in Miami. The Dolphins released him in 2026, opening the door for the Willis experiment. If McCord starts against Indianapolis on November 15th, he will become the 29th different quarterback to start a game for Miami since Marino retired. That is an astonishing statistic for a franchise that once had two of the most recognizable quarterbacks in football history.

What Happens Next for the Dolphins?

The immediate challenge is getting through the next four games without Willis. Miami faces Indianapolis, Buffalo, the New York Jets and Denver before Willis becomes eligible to return. The biggest storyline is undoubtedly McCord. At 24, he has the opportunity to show the Dolphins that he might be more than just another backup quarterback passing through the organization.

There are reasons to be optimistic about his potential. His college production at Syracuse was outstanding, and his preseason performance in Green Bay demonstrated that he can move the football and protect it. But the NFL regular season is a completely different animal, particularly when you’re facing defenses that have an entire week to prepare for you.

Meanwhile, Willis has a lot riding on his recovery. Miami invested a three year, $67.5 million contract in him, and the organization needs to determine whether he can become the quarterback it hoped it was signing. Coach Jeff Hafley has already made one thing clear, if Willis returns healthy this season, he will reclaim the starting job. There is no announced quarterback controversy.

For the Dolphins, the 2026 season has become something of an evaluation exercise. The team is sitting at 1-7, and the playoffs are looking increasingly unrealistic. Giving McCord an opportunity could provide some valuable information about the future of the franchise. One thing is certain, Miami fans have been waiting a long time for another quarterback who can consistently lead this organization. Whether that person is Malik Willis, Kyle McCord or someone who hasn’t arrived yet remains to be seen.

After all, the Dolphins have been searching for the next Dan Marino for 27 years. That’s a pretty long time to be looking for a quarterback in a league that keeps producing them.

And to Make Things Worse, the Starting Center Goes Down

The Miami Dolphins have another problem developing in the trenches, and the timing couldn’t be much worse. When a team is bringing in a new quarterback, the last thing it needs is a depleted offensive line. Center Aaron Brewer’s injury raises serious questions about Miami’s ability to protect its quarterback, establish a running game, and keep the offense operating smoothly.

The center position is particularly important because he is responsible for making line calls, identifying defensive fronts, and helping coordinate protection assignments. A quarterback can have all the arm talent in the world, but if defenders are coming through the middle before he can finish his drop, things tend to get ugly in a hurry.

Brewer entered the NFL concussion protocol after Miami’s November 8th game against the Detroit Lions. Although he appeared to finish that game, concussion symptoms surfaced during the following week. He did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, and head coach Jeff Hafley officially ruled him out for Sunday’s game against Indianapolis.

How long will he be out? There is no confirmed multiweek timetable from the Dolphins. Brewer must complete the NFL’s five step concussion protocol, including medical clearance before returning to full contact activities. Current player projections list November 22nd as his estimated return date, which would mean missing one game, but that is an estimate, not an official team announcement.

Other Offensive Line Injuries

Brewer isn’t the first Miami offensive lineman to have concussion related problems this season. Kadyn Proctor, the rookie offensive lineman, also experienced concussion symptoms and missed the Week 8 game against New England after apparently making it through the previous game. His situation was similar to Brewer’s, with symptoms becoming apparent after game day.

Who Is Replacing Brewer?

Well, you obviously have never heard of him, but now starting is Andrew Meyer. Undrafted in 2024, he has appeared in six NFL games, starting in one. Meyer has an important advantage. He and Kyle McCord have spent considerable time working together on Miami’s scout team. That familiarity should help with snap exchanges and communication. Coach Hafley has publicly expressed confidence in Meyer, describing him as a tough player who is ready for the opportunity.

How Bad is this For a New Quarterback?

McCord takes over for Malik Willis, who is on injured reserve with a groin injury. This is where things get particularly concerning for Miami. McCord is making his first NFL start, and he is losing the starting center who normally helps organize the offensive line. That creates several challenges:

1. Communication: The center identifies defensive fronts and helps coordinate blocking assignments. McCord will have to develop confidence in a replacement center while learning the responsibilities of an NFL starting quarterback.

2. Protection: Indianapolis can disguise blitzes, send pressure through the interior and force McCord to make quicker decisions. Interior pressure is particularly difficult for inexperienced quarterbacks because it disrupts the pocket directly in front of them.

3. Snap exchanges: A center and quarterback need consistent timing. Even a slightly inaccurate shotgun snap can disrupt a play before it begins.

4. Running game: Losing an established starting center can affect the offensive line’s ability to create running lanes, putting additional pressure on the passing game.

There is one positive: McCord and Meyer have already developed familiarity through their work together. That could make the transition considerably easier than pairing McCord with a center he barely knows.

The Bigger Picture for Miami

The Dolphins are dealing with several significant injuries at the same time. Malik Willis is on injured reserve, Brewer is out with a concussion, Zach Sieler is done for the season with a torn biceps, and Miami could also be without rookie receiver Chris Bell. The offensive line situation deserves particular attention because the Dolphins are essentially asking a quarterback making his first NFL start to learn on the job while adjusting to a backup center.

SFL.MEDIA take: Losing Brewer is a substantial setback, but the bigger concern is the combination of a new starting quarterback, an inexperienced replacement center and injuries elsewhere on the offense. Miami needs to simplify the game plan, establish the running game, use quick passes and avoid putting McCord in obvious passing situations. The last thing this team needs is to have its new quarterback spending his afternoon picking himself up off the turf.