Tennessee Titans rule out Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis and Will Levis to replace him
Titans coach Mike Vrabel announced Friday that quarterback Ryan Tannehill won’t play versus the Falcons.
The news means that either Will Levis, Tennessee’s second-round pick in April’s draft, or second-year player Malik Willis, will move to the first team.
Tannehill sprained his ankle in the Titans’ 24-16 loss to the Ravens on Oct. 15 in a game played in London. Tennessee had a bye last weekend. Tannehill didn’t practice at all this week, leading Vrabel to announce a change at quarterback before Friday’s team workout.
Although Vrabel hasn’t said for sure who will start in Tannehill’s place, signs are pointing to Levis, the former Kentucky star. Draft analysts graded Levis as a first-round pick. However, he slipped through the first round and the Titans selected him up early in the second round with the 33rd overall pick.
Vrabel said Friday that both Levis and Willis will play against the Falcons. The Titans don’t have to reveal who is starting until Sunday, so why not keep the Falcons defense guessing? Two days ago, the head coach pushed back on reports that he’d decided on Levis. “I never said that Will was going to be the starter,” Vrabel told reporters. “Both of them will play if Ryan can’t.”
Tannehill started the week getting around on a scooter. By mid-week, he was walking, but he still was in a brace.
“Everything is feeling better than it did last week,” Tannehill told the media. “It’s been a process to get to where I’m at right now. But we’re trending in the right direction and healing.”
Journalists on the scene said the Titans were splitting the reps between Levis and Willis.
“If my name gets called I’ll be ready to go,” Levis told reporters. “We go with the same game plan and are both preparing for the same plays. We’ll have to be ready for all of it. Everything Malik can do I can do and vice versa.”
Levis might’ve been a clear No. 2 on the season depth chart if not for a thigh injury he suffered in mid-August when the Titans were doing a joint practice with the Vikings. Vrabel even mentioned the injury on Friday.