Titans plan to use Malik Willis, Will Levis at QB
The Tennessee Titans will use Malik Willis and Will Levis at quarterback in Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons after declaring Ryan Tannehill out on Friday.
Tannehill has started the Titans’ six games this season. But he sustained an ankle injury during Tennessee’s previous contest – a 24-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 15.
On Wednesday, Titans coach Mike Vrabel told reporters: “If Ryan can’t play, I would anticipate both of those quarterbacks playing in the football game.”
On Friday, with Tannehill officially out, Vrabel reiterated Tennessee’s intentions without elaborating: “Same plan and not really ready to talk about that. But excited to watch both those guys play. I really am. They’ve worked hard.”
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Willis, who began his college career at Auburn before transferring to Liberty, started three games for the Titans last season as a rookie when Tannehill was injured.
Levis joined Tennessee from Kentucky in the second round of the NFL Draft on April 28 and has not played in an NFL regular-season game.
“Just treating like any other week,” Levis said on Wednesday. “Vrabel preaches that we prepare as starters every week regardless of what position or opportunity we have. If my name gets called, I’ll be ready to go. …
“We got the same game plan. We’re both preparing for the same plays, and if our name does get called, we’re going to have to be ready for all of it.”
Willis replaced Tannehill for the final two series against Baltimore. He completed 4-of-5 passes for 74 yards and ran for 17 yards on three carries against the Ravens. But he was sacked four times as the Titans tried to catch up.
“I think we’re going to go out there and try to win the game, whatever that looks like,” Willis said about Tennessee’s quarterback plan against Atlanta.
A preseason injury kept Levis from playing in the Titans’ final two preseason games. His on-the-field experience against an NFL opponent consists of the second half of Tennessee’s 23-17 preseason loss to the Chicago Bears on Aug. 12.
With Levis out and the Titans reluctant to play Tannehill, Willis went all the way under center in Tennessee’s final two preseason games in August. That was after he played 211 offensive snaps for as a third-round rookie in 2022.
The Titans are coming off their open date, which gave Tennessee an extra week to try to get Tannehill healthy and its two young quarterbacks ready to play.
“I think it was cool,” Willis said of the extra practice reps. “I think we got to get some good timing with some guys that we haven’t usually been throwing to, and I think it was really fun to just go out there and just play football.”
During his NFL career, Willis has completed 35-of-66 passes for 350 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions and run for 140 yards and one touchdown on 30 carries.
The Titans face the Falcons at noon CDT Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Atlanta has a 4-3 record, and the Falcons defense has allowed the fifth-fewest yards in the NFL this season. The Titans have a 2-4 record, and only three offenses in the league have produced fewer yards than Tennessee’s has.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.