Ryan Tannehill and Caleb Farley out versus the Falcons

20200517_134556by:Justin Rudolph•08/12/21

The Titans will be without starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill and first-round pick Caleb Farley in Friday’s preseason opener versus the Atlanta Falcons. Head coach Mike Vrabel did not give specifics on the reasons why either player is out. The only insight he gave on his rookie was that Caleb Farley would not play because “he’s not ready to play.”

Tannehill on the Titans

Tannehill has been the team’s head signal-caller ever since he took over for Marcus Mariota following a 16-0 loss to the Denver Broncos in 2019. In two seasons with Tennessee, Tannehill and superstar running back Derrick Henry have led the Titans to back-to-back playoff appearances. In 2019, they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 24-35.

He was also awarded the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. In 2020, Tannehill’s role was expanded in the offense. He finished the season with a QBR of 78.3, good for fourth best in the NFL. Unfortunately, in a rematch of last year’s divisional-round playoff game, the Titans fell to Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. Tannehill signed an extension back in March of 2020 for $118 million over four years; $62 million of the contract is fully guaranteed.

What happened to Farley

The Titans were high on the potential of their first-round pick Caleb Farley. Their two starting corners from last year, Malcolm Butler and Adoree Jackson, both left via free agency, which left a huge hole for Tennessee at cornerback. The 22nd overall pick was expected to compete for the starting corner position. But after making a few mental errors at practice last Friday, Farley was pulled from practice. He also saw his name scratched from the depth chart altogether. Vrabel explained to ESPN’s Turron Davenport why He was pulled.

“He’s just got a lot of work to do,” Vrabel said. “He made a mistake or didn’t do something great, kind of stood there or laid on the ground and I just said ‘that’s not how we’re going to do it.’ There are going to be a lot of mistakes that happen through the course of a game, but we’re going to go finish and we’re going to find someone to cover, or find somebody to tackle, or finish the play.”

Farley should have time to turn things around by the start of the season. And Tannehill will most likely suit up for other preseason games. So, the two missing Friday’s game shouldn’t interfere with the Titans competing for the AFC title this season.

(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)