Malik Willis turns heads immediately in impressive Dolphins debut

Malik Willis didn’t need much time to make a strong first impression as the Miami Dolphins’ new quarterback.

Willis engineered a 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive on his only series Friday night, providing an encouraging glimpse of Miami’s new-look offense despite the Dolphins falling 20-7 to the Washington Commanders in the preseason opener for both teams.

Willis was efficient from the opening snap, completing 4 of 5 passes for 43 yards while adding 9 rushing yards on two carries. His ability to operate the offense and extend plays with his legs helped Miami methodically march down the field.

Running back De’Von Achane was equally productive during his limited appearance. Achane rushed for 39 yards on seven carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run that finished the Dolphins’ impressive opening possession.

“It was exciting,” Willis said. “Just the consistency of the guys out there, keeping up the energy and the execution all the way down the field. I think they did a great job with their preparation and learning from the practice.”

Willis comes out firing in first action 

For Miami, the result mattered considerably less than what Willis showed in his first live-game opportunity with the Dolphins.

The quarterback displayed composure, accuracy and command while directing an extended scoring drive. Completing 80% of his passes was encouraging, but perhaps more important was Willis’ ability to keep Miami ahead of the chains and finish the possession with seven points.

Achane’s performance also offered an early indication of what Miami’s running game could provide. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry before exiting after the first series.

Washington controlled the remainder of the game after Miami’s starters departed, scoring 20 unanswered points to secure the preseason victory.

Still, Willis gave the Dolphins something positive to take from the night.

Preseason openers rarely provide definitive answers, but Willis’ first drive in a Miami uniform was exactly the type of start the Dolphins wanted to see from their new quarterback.

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