Dolphins Name McCord Starter After Willis Injury

With Malik Willis on injured reserve for at least four games, Kyle McCord is set to make his first NFL start for the Miami Dolphins against the Indianapolis Colts. The second-year quarterback, who played at Ohio State and set single-season passing records at Syracuse, says his experience in high-profile college games gives him confidence, while Dolphins coaches have praised his arm, quick processing and accuracy. As a more traditional pocket passer than the mobile Willis, McCord could lead Miami toward a more pass-oriented offense, though the team will first need to establish consistency with him under center. One simulation model projects the Dolphins’ already slim playoff chances at 0.1% with McCord, compared with 0.4% with Willis, while estimating Miami’s expected margin in its remaining games would be lower with McCord.