Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill left Sunday’s game against the Ravens in London early with an ankle injury. Testing when the team returned to the US revealed the veteran suffered a high ankle sprain, meaning he’s almost certain to miss some time. With Tannehill out, who will the Titans turn to at quarterback?
Tennessee Titans Turning to Young Guys After Ryan Tannehill Injury
What's next for the #Titans at QB? All things being considered as Ryan Tannehill begins recovery process.
"It will be one of those two guys (@malikwillis or @will_levis) if Ryan can't go. I don't know who that would be yet."
READ https://t.co/y8NDXtOrEb pic.twitter.com/ftj5z5MqEQ
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) October 17, 2023
Willis’s Surprise Appearance
As Tannehill exited Sunday morning’s contest, Mike Vrabel had no choice but to turn to Malik Willis, as rookie Will Levis was the team’s emergency quarterback. Willis came in and played well enough, completing four of his five passes for 74 yards and running three times for 17 yards.
Despite his decent numbers, Willis was sacked four times for 30 yards down the stretch, burying the Titans’ hopes for a comeback. The young quarterback was also unable to score from the one-yard line, staying in bounds while trying to reach the endzone, costing the Titans precious time. All in all, Willis was ok, but Vrabel will certainly have a decision on his hands about which young quarterback gives the team the best chance to win with Tannehill sidelined.
Status of the Ryan Tannehill Injury
Vrabel has said that if Tannehill is healthy, he’ll be the starter, but that looks to be highly unlikely. Although reports say Tannehill will not require surgery, it’s the same ankle he dealt with last season, meaning his recovery process may be tedious.
Last season, he missed two games early with the ankle before returning to reinjure it in Week 15 against the Chargers, ending his season on injured reserve. Despite Tennessee’s bye week following their trip to London, Tannehill will still need some time off. A high ankle sprain is one that could require several weeks or even months.
Tennessee’s Options
Willis has won the backup job to this point, giving him the chance to come in on Sunday morning. However, Will Levis is also on the bench after missing most of the preseason with injury. Willis and Levis will now be in competition for starting reps for two weeks as the Titans’ next game isn’t until they host the Falcons on October 29th.
While Willis may be more familiar with the offense, Levis definitely has a case for the starting job. Levis stands at 6-foot-4, 229 pounds while WIllis is 6-foot-1, 218 pounds. The two quarterbacks both possess more mobility than Tannehill, but that’s not saying much these days as the 35-year-old hangs in the pocket as long as possible.
This seems to be where these two differ. As Willis has shown last season, this preseason and on Sunday, he often starts scrambling and tries to run when he sees his first read is unavailable. Levis, on the other hand, seems much more comfortable in the pocket, shifting and avoiding a pass rush while going through his progressions, running only as a last resort.
For better or worse, the #Titans have to see what they’ve got in Will Levis when they come back from the bye. It’s the right time to do it with two weeks to prepare and Tannehill is banged up anyway. pic.twitter.com/I2viUg2JDe
— Mike Herndon (@MikeHerndonNFL) October 15, 2023
Vrabel’s Decision
The Titans, now 2-4 on the year, can end up going in two directions with this injury. The new starter could give the team a shot in the arm, igniting this stagnant offense and earning the job while making a push toward the playoffs. Or they could learn that neither of their quarterbacks of the future are fit for the job as they long for Tannehill to return. Tannehill’s injury certainly gives Tennessee a chance to see what they’ve got in the quarterback room.
Main Photo: Peter van der Berg – USA Today Sports
