MIAMI GARDENS ― Miami Dolphins' Malik Willis was seeking his first win of the season Sunday as starting quarterback in a home game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Willis entered the game ranked near the bottom of various NFL passing categories.
A season-ending knee injury to De'Von Achane is devastating. And the absence of rookie receiver Caleb Douglas (ankle) for the past three weeks is damaging.
It did not go well for Willis or the Dolphins, 28-18 losers to the Bengals.
Miami is 0-5. Cincinnati is 3-2.
Here is a report card for Willis' Week 5 performance vs. Cincinnati
Malik Willis Miami Dolphins Report Card vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Arm strength: C+
Arm strength is not and will not be the issue. But there have been too many issues.
Accuracy: C-
Malik Willis did not complete an off-schedule, short loft pass for Chris Bell in the first quarter.
Bell may have been impeded on the play.
Willis hit Jalen Tolbert for his first completion of the day, an on-target in-breaking route for 22 yards.
Willis was intercepted in the second quarter. He was under pressure and tried to force the ball down the field and the ball was batted and Jordan Battle made a play on the ball.
It was one of two interceptions. And there was nearly a third.
Willis made a strong play in the fourth quarter, rolling to his right and finding rookie Kevin Coleman in the back of the end zone for a touchdown to help bring Miami within 28-18.
Poise/Leadership: C-
Willis took a sack when rolling right in the red zone. Willis could have thrown it away. Miami had to settle for a field goal when they had 1st-and-goal at the 1/2 yard line.
Willis fumbled for a fourth time this season, not securing the football when looking to run in the fourth.
Decision-making: C-
Malik Willis could have thrown underneath for Will Kacmarek but tried to force it down the field and was intercepted when the ball was tipped as he was under pressure in the second quarter.
Willis threw late and across his body on a second interception, intended for Kevin Coleman in the second quarter.
Willis was nearly intercepted a third time in the end zone, trailing 21-7 in the third quarter.
Willis wants to drive the ball down the field but he needs to take easier completions underneath. He needs to lean on his checkdowns.
There are also times where it seems Willis could step up into the pocket to deliver a throw when under edge pressure.
Mobility: B-
Malik Willis could not convert on a red zone run on third-and-4 in the first quarter. It was a designed run.
Willis was stopped on a goal line quarterback sneak on second down.
Willis ran up the middle for a first down in the third quarter. He can be an exciting player on the move. Willis had an outstanding 39-yard scramble at the start of the fourth quarter on third-and-13.
Overall: C-
Willis is in a tough spot. He does not have star running back De'Von Achane. On Sunday, he did not have top receiver Caleb Douglas. Right guard Jonah Savaiinaea was injured in the first half.
It's hard for Willis not to try to be a superhero. But it's going to be almost impossible to do so with this team. Willis really needs to focus on showing he can make simple, safe plays.
He has to convince Miami before the end of this season they can run it back with him in 2027, and bypass a Top 5 quarterback in the next NFL Draft.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Threads and Instagram and X at @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins QB Malik Willis grades: Not enough passing success
