With QB Malik Willis OUT this week and on IR for a minimum of 4 games, backup Kyle McCord will get the start this week at Lucas oil Stadium against the 2-7 Indianapolis Colts. This is a great chance for QB Kyle McCord, because he will have a minimum of 4 games to show whether he can at the very least be a good backup QB, or maybe if he plays really well, potentially in a competition to be the starter with injured QB Malik Willis. McCord was drafted last year in the 6th Round by the Philadelphia Eagles. The Green Bay Packers signed QB Kyle McCord in January to a futures contract after being released by the Eagles. The Dolphins traded a 2028 6th RD pick to the Green Bay Backers, the very same 6th RD pick the Dolphins received when they traded QB Quinn Ewers to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

We have seen QB’s play in their first game and it’s not always pretty. QB Kyle McCord had a mixed result as a college QB. For a frame of reference, McCord was a Top 25 QB prospect out of High School. He chose Ohio State, and finally in his Junior year, he was the starter, and while he didn’t play poorly, and for context, Ohio State had a loaded roster, he threw for 3170 yards with 24 TD’s and 6 INT’s. Her then transferred to Syracuse, and in his Senior season, will much less talent the roster he had at Ohio State, threw for for 4779 yards with 34 TD’s and 12 INT’s. He’s known as a gunslinger, a QB who doesn’t like to make check down throws. He has a solid NFL arm, he can make any throw on the field well enough, including deep outs. I’m excited to see him play, but remember he’s been the backup QB, and has been getting only second team reps up until this week, so basically one week of starters reps. This means he couldn’t have possible developed any chemistry with his receivers. Regardless, it’s an interesting situation and I hope he succeeds, and I’ll explain further.

I’ve seen Dolphins making the Tom Brady comparison, and while that’s pie in the sky, it’s possible for a late RD QB to succeed in the NFL. McCord has talent, he put up some crazy numbers at Syracuse his Senior Year, and the kid is loaded with confidence, and felt he should have been drafted earlier. QB Brock Purdy was Mr. Irrelevant, #262 and he’s not only a starting QB now, he’s a darn good one. He was in the right situation, behind an oft injured QB in Jimmy Garoppolo who couldn’t stay on the field. When Purdy finally got his chance, he jumped at it, and never looked back. Now McCord isn’t playing for a very talented, veteran San Francisco 49ers team, he’s on a young, inexperienced team who has won only one game of 8. It is, however, a similar situation to his College career, because he played for a talent laden Ohio State team, and left them to play at Syracuse and in doing so, lit up the record books playing extremely well for a lesser roster at Syracuse.

QB Malik Willis hasn’t shown me that he can be a winning starter in this league. He has talent, he has a strong enough arm to make any throw, he has legit athleticism, something his replacement, QB Kyle McCord does not have. Unfortunately, I do think it’s possible that groin injury has been hampering him for a while, probably as long as the Fest game against Cincinnati, when he inexplicably slid after a 39 yard scramble run. He’s completed less than 60% of his passes, (58%), for only 1396 yards, 6 TD’s, 6 INT’s. You’re not going to win in the NFL passing like that, it’s that simple. Two things may be at stake here with McCord getting playing time. McCord may play well enough to convince coaches he deserves a chance to be in competition for the starting job, or even be the starter for the rest of the season. He may play well enough to be considered a legit backup QB candidate, and if the Dolphins do draft a QB next season, there could be a 2 or 3 man competition for that job. This is all very big for this team, and for these players. This is a QB league, the NFL, and if you don’t have a productive QB, you’re not going anywhere.

OK, now for the rest of the team. Some sad developments this week, DT Zach Sieler ruptured his biceps and is OUT for the Season. Of course, QB Malik Willis was put on IR and will miss a minimum of 4 games with a groin injury. RE Josh Uche has been showing up, and was named as a team captain with the departures of two team captains, Sieler and Willis. It’s time for DL Jordan Phillips, DL Zeek Biggers and DL Kenneth Grant to turn up the volume. Phillips has been solid as a starter all season, but now the other guys need to step up. You would hope that DL Kenneth Grant, 1st RD Pick in 2025 (#13) will bgin to show he was worthy of an early 1st RD pick last season. The guys drafted this season have for the most part been playing admirably well, with the exception (IMO) of WR Chris bell. Of course, Bell is coming off an ACL tear just last November, but the coaches, and I’d assume the player both felt he was healthy enough to start playing at the beginning of the season, but we haven’t really seen anything from him. WR Caleb Douglas, and even 5th RD pick WR Kevin Coleman have outplayed Bell. I know it’s not fair, but it’s true. I’m more than happy to give Bell a mulligan this season, but I can’t lie and say I didn’t expect more, especially since they played him from the get-go.

The Colts at 2-7 were big sellers at the deadline, but the centerpiece of their offense, RB Jonathan Taylor remains. The Colts were looking for a 1st RD pick and couldn’t get, so they still remain a dangerous team. They did, however, trade All Pro G Quenton Nelson, All Pro DT DeForest Buckner, Slot WR Josh Downs, and veteran WR Keenan Allen too, so this team had a bake sale before the deadline. It’s fair to say that young QB Kyle McCord will not be facing a very inspired football team. QB Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor can still bring it, but the guys on the team know the Front Office has given up this season, and that’s demoralizing and frustrating. Regardless, there are legit professionals who are still fighting for jobs and for pride, so never look past any opponent. The Colts are 24th in points scored at 20.4 PPG, and 30th on defense in points allowed at 27.7 PPG. The Dolphins are worse, 31st on offense scoring just 16.8 PPG, but better on defense at 24th in points allowed at 25 PPG. Good luck Kyle McCord, hope you have a great NFL debut!

GO DOLPHINS!!!