Verified and updated: Nov. 11, 2026, 5:17 p.m. UTC (12:17 p.m. ET).
Kyle McCord is in line to make his first NFL start after the Miami Dolphins placed quarterback Malik Willis on injured reserve on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Miami’s official transaction announcement confirms the move; the NFL reports McCord is expected to start Sunday on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. The change gives the second-year quarterback his first regular-season chance to run the offense and makes him the immediate focus of Miami’s quarterback depth chart.
The opportunity follows a 1–7 start for the Dolphins and comes with an important caveat: McCord has not yet recorded a regular-season NFL passing attempt. His most recent logged game action is preseason, where his final outing included four touchdown passes in a win over Arizona. That performance offers a promising data point, but Sunday will be a far more meaningful test.
The immediate reason is Willis’ placement on injured reserve. The Dolphins’ Nov. 10 roster notice confirms Willis was moved to the list, while NFL.com’s report says the injury will sideline him for at least four weeks. Under the NFL’s injured-reserve rules, a player must miss at least four games before returning, so McCord has a defined opening to start while Willis is unavailable.
McCord joined Miami after being selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft and later moving through Green Bay. The Dolphins acquired him from the Packers in an August trade. He had served as a reserve behind Willis, and the NFL’s report notes he had not yet appeared in a regular-season game. His promotion is therefore a sudden step from backup preparation to leading the offense on game day.
NFL.com’s game log lists McCord’s Aug. 28 preseason performance against the Arizona Cardinals as 22 completions on 35 attempts for 226 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also had one rush for four yards. The line is evidence that he produced an efficient scoring performance in that game, though it should not be treated as a direct forecast of NFL regular-season success.
His other logged preseason outings were more modest: 118 passing yards with no touchdowns or interceptions against Denver, and 102 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions against Pittsburgh. Those appearances provide a small sample of his recent game work, not a full picture of how he will fare against a regular-season defense preparing specifically for him.
McCord is expected to take the first-team quarterback role for Sunday’s road game. The transition changes the preparation equation for Miami’s offense: coaches must build the game plan around a quarterback with limited NFL game experience, while teammates adjust to his timing and communication. The NFL report says Miami is 1–7 and notes Willis had been the team’s primary passer, so the offense will be adapting during a difficult stretch.
Indianapolis can study McCord’s college and preseason tape, but the Dolphins may also use the start to assess which concepts he handles best. How quickly he gets the ball out, protects possession, and connects with Miami’s receivers will matter more than preseason totals alone. These are forward-looking questions, not established outcomes.
It could influence the team’s evaluation, but it will not automatically determine Miami’s long-term starter. If McCord manages the offense well and gives the team a competitive chance, he could strengthen his case for a larger role. If he struggles, the result would still need to be weighed against the circumstances: a first NFL start, a new game plan, and an opponent with time to prepare.
Willis’ return timeline also matters. The team’s transaction confirms the injured-reserve placement, while NFL.com identifies a four-week minimum absence. Once Willis becomes eligible to return, Miami will have to assess his health and compare the quarterbacks’ performance in practice and games. For now, McCord has the clearest path to meaningful snaps, and the Colts game is the first real measurement of what he can do in a regular-season setting.
He is expected to start against the Indianapolis Colts after Malik Willis was placed on injured reserve.
As of Nov. 11, NFL.com reports he is poised to make his first NFL start and has not yet appeared in a regular-season game.
In his Aug. 28 preseason game against Arizona, he completed 22 of 35 passes for 226 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Sources: Miami Dolphins’ official roster-moves announcement; NFL.com report on Willis’ injured-reserve move and McCord’s expected start; NFL.com game log for Kyle McCord.
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