Up next for the Indianapolis Colts is a matchup at home against the Miami Dolphins.
The Colts enter this game at 2-7, on a five-game losing streak, and with a depleted wide receiver room following the NFL trade deadline. Miami, however, is 1-7 and will have Kyle McCord making his first NFL start at quarterback.
Here are three things to know about this game, along with a prediction.
What to know about Kyle McCord
With Malik Willis on injured reserve, McCord will be making his first NFL start. He was a sixth-round pick by Philadelphia in 2025 and spent his rookie season on the practice squad. He then spent this offseason in Green Bay and was traded to Miami during roster cutdowns after a successful preseason.
"He's done a good job in the look team reps that he's given us," head
coach Jeff Hafley said of McCord, via SI. "The developmental periods that we have, I mean, it's why we do it, right? So say he's gotten 10 to 15 reps over the last 10 weeks, it's 100 reps of our plays. So he's done a good job in those periods. But it's going to be a lot different. I mean, him now being the starter and getting the game plan and playing every down and playing with a live rush and going through a real football game. So I'm excited to see what he can do. It opens a great opportunity for him and I'm happy that he'll get his chance."
McCord played three seasons at Ohio State before finishing his career at Syracuse. During that 2024 season, he threw for 4,760 yards with 34 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
What do the Colts do at wide receiver?
The Colts traded away their two most productive wideouts at the trade deadline, leaving this position group depleted. Now making up the wide receiver unit on the 53-man roster are Laquon Treadwell, Ashton Dulin, Anthony Gould, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Deion Burks.
As was pointed out by Mike Chappell, this group has combined for 27 receptions for 375 yards and one touchdown. 16 of those receptions and 215 of those yards belong to Treadwell.
During the week, Shane Steichen said that Gould will start at the slot position without Josh Downs. We will likely see Treadwell and Dulin continue in their normal roles, although more opportunities will be coming their way, while Westbrook-Ikhine and Burks will see more reps as well.
Moving the ball through the air was already a big challenge this season for the Colts, and it certainly hasn't gotten any easier over the last week.
If the Colts can't win this week, when will they?
Not only is McCord making his first NFL start, but as already mentioned, the Dolphins are just 1-7 this season. Overall on the year, Miami's offense ranks 31st in scoring, while the defense ranks 23rd. The Colts are also the home team for this matchup.
When it comes to what it means for the season as a whole, a win doesn't change anything, but it would provide the players and coaches with a boost after what has been a rough month-plus stretch of football.
Colts vs. Dolphins Week 10 prediction
Pete Prisco has the Colts winning a close one, 23-22.
"This is the dog game of the week between two struggling teams. But one is young and playing hard on the way up, while one is on the way down after trading away assets. The problem for Miami is that quarterback Malik Willis is out. That means Kyle McCord will start at quarterback. Miami will hang around against the depleted Colts team, but the Colts will win it late."
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 3 things to know plus a prediction for Colts vs. Dolphins game
