Dolphins stick with Malik Willis despite early-season struggles

Coach Jeff Hafley reaffirmed Malik Willis as the Dolphins' quarterback after a 31‑24 loss to Cincinnati and a 0‑5 start to the season.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:56:24 GMT

Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley told reporters on Monday that quarterback Malik Willis will stay under center despite the team's 0‑5 start and a recent loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, according to the Associated Press and Bleacher Report.

What happened

In the Dolphins' fifth game of the 2026 NFL season, Miami fell 31‑24 to the Cincinnati Bengals. Willis completed 0 of his first four passes and finished the game with 137 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Over the first five games, he has thrown for 849 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions, completing 56.2 percent of his passes.

What the reports add

The Associated Press article notes that Willis has shown “arm talent and athleticism” in earlier games, which prompted GM Jon‑Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley to acquire him from Green Bay. Bleacher Report adds that Hafley was asked whether he would consider starting Kyle McCord after the upcoming bye week, and he responded that Willis remains the quarterback. Both outlets quote Hafley acknowledging the need for improvement while pointing to “flashes” of positive play, such as a two‑minute drive at halftime.

What was said

"We've played five games and Malik is our quarterback," Hafley told reporters, as reported by Bleacher Report.

He added, "It needs to be better, for sure. But there's signs of it. There was flashes yesterday in that game, especially when I think about that two‑minute drive at the half and some of the things he did at the end of the game where he just looked aggressive and comfortable. We gotta work through that," also from Bleacher Report.

How it came about

Willis was acquired in the offseason after a strong four‑game stint with the Green Bay Packers, a move highlighted in the AP story. The decision to keep him aligns with recent Felo News coverage of quarterback controversies, such as the Titans' decision to retain Cam Ward despite fan calls for a bench (see previous report).

Key facts

Miami Dolphins remain committed to Malik Willis as starting quarterback after a 0‑5 start. (bleacherreport.com)
Willis has thrown for 849 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions in the first five games. (bleacherreport.com)
In the loss to Cincinnati, Willis completed 0 of his first four passes and finished with 137 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. (winnipegfreepress.com)