Kyle McCord will make his first NFL start on Sunday, November 15, when the Miami Dolphins visit the Indianapolis Colts. Miami placed Malik Willis on injured reserve on Tuesday with a groin injury that has become a core muscle injury, which Tom Pelissero reported will cost him at least four weeks. The Dolphins are 1-7 after a 19-9 loss to the Lions in Week 9.
McCord, who played at Ohio State and Syracuse and came to Miami from Green Bay in the summer, has not thrown a pass in an NFL regular-season game. He spoke on Wednesday before practice. “Obviously excited, but at the same time, I know that the production on the field matters most, so doing everything I can to get myself ready to go play,” he said.
“One of the big goals in my life”
McCord said he expects the nerves to fade after the opening snap. “Once you get the first play call on the helmet and get going, I think it’ll feel just like football,” he said. He pointed to his college career as a source of confidence. “Being at a school like Ohio State and then playing in some big games at Syracuse, too, I think it should give you confidence that you’ve played on a big stage before,” he said. “It’s not, you know, my first time I’m playing in a big game.”
Asked about the texts and calls since the news broke, he said he has been answering them as they come, while also trying to “put my phone on do not disturb and watching film and trying to get away from the social media side of things.” Looking back on his path, he said, “Throughout the highs and lows in my career and, you know, the twists and turns and transferring and, you know, getting traded and all that, this was always one of the big goals in my life. And so, being able to cross that off is special, but at the same time, like in the grand scheme of things, I hope it’s just the start.”
Willis “has my back,” and Patullo is a familiar face
McCord said Willis has helped him all week. “Malik’s been great and he knows, you know, I have his back and he has my back, and he’s been a huge help because obviously he was in the same situation last year with Jordan,” he said, referring to Willis’ time as Jordan Love’s backup in Green Bay. As the backup, McCord said he kept taking mental reps behind Willis. “Even when Malik was going with the ones, still standing right behind and getting those mental reps, too,” he said. “In moments like this is when you reap the benefits of that.”
He said the offense is “pretty similar to Green Bay,” from “the same family, the same system,” with some differences in terminology. Kevin Patullo, who coached him in Philadelphia last year, has been “a huge help,” he said. “Just having a familiar face on the staff kind of bouncing ideas off of.” Asked whether he wants the playbook simplified, McCord said, “No, not at all,” and that he prides himself on “being able to run anything that Bobby wants to call,” a reference to offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
A four-game window, one week at a time
With Willis out for at least four games, McCord said knowing in advance that he will play helps. “I would definitely say there’s benefit to knowing you’re playing beforehand and being able to get those live reps with the guys rather than kind of just being thrown into the fire,” he said. “But regardless if it’s a four-game stretch, a five-game stretch, a one-game stretch, whatever it is, I feel like you still approach it the same way.” Asked to describe his style, he called himself “the ultimate competitor” and said he relies on “being able to process information at a quick rate and getting the ball out and being accurate and being on time.”
Hafley: “There is enough tape to see talent and poise”
Head coach Jeff Hafley said on Wednesday that McCord has taken 10 to 15 team reps a week over the first 10 weeks and that Willis will be the starter again once he returns. “I’m excited to see what he can do. It provides him a great opportunity to see what he can do,” Hafley said, adding that McCord “had a really good preseason” and that “there is enough tape to see talent and poise.” McCord completed 46 of 70 passes for 446 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions for the Packers in the preseason.
Hafley also described McCord as decisive and aggressive, with “a quiet confidence about himself.” On the same day, the Dolphins named edge rusher Josh Uche a team captain. McCord will be the 29th different quarterback to start for Miami since Dan Marino retired.
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