Willis Enters Sunday's Matchup With Limited Starting Experience
Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis is scheduled to make his third start for the team on Sunday, according to reports. This upcoming game will mark Willis’s ninth career start in the National Football League.
Despite being in the NFL for more than four seasons, Willis remains a rookie in terms of starting experience. The Dolphins have identified establishing Willis as a franchise-type quarterback as one of the primary goals for the current season.
Coincidence With Previous Start Against 49ers
Willis’s upcoming start follows his previous appearance against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. During that contest, Willis passed against 49ers defensive end Romello Height during the third quarter.
In that game, Willis remained in the matchup with 4:03 remaining on the clock while Miami trailed 35-6. The decision to keep him in the game resulted in two handoffs to running back Ollie Gordon II and a 77-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Miller on the Dolphins' final offensive play of the contest.
Coaching Staff Prioritizes Experience Over Injury Protection
Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley stated that the decision to keep Willis in the game against San Francisco was made specifically to provide him with more experience and repetitions. This approach contrasted with the handling of other players during similar blowout losses.
Hafley noted that key veterans such as De'Von Achane, Aaron Brewer, Zach Sieler, and Jordyn Brooks were pulled from previous blowout losses to avoid injury. However, Hafley explained that Willis is not yet established enough in the league to warrant the same level of protection as those veteran players.
The coaching staff’s strategy suggests that progress for Willis will be evident in future seasons when it becomes apparent that he should be removed from games once the outcome is no longer in doubt. For now, the focus remains on accumulating snaps and developing his skills as a starter.