Titans will keep QB options open during practices
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis sure looks as if he will make his NFL debut Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
As for whether the No. 33rd overall draft pick starts? Well coach Mike Vrabel publicly is holding out hope veteran Ryan Tannehill still plays. If Tannehill’s sprained right ankle sidelines him, then the Titans plan to use both Levis and secondyear pro Malik Willis.
And Vrabel sure wasn’t announcing a starter Wednesday.
“I never said that Will was going to be the starter,” Vrabel said. “Both of them will play if Ryan can’t. We’ll see how Ryan feels. … That’s where we’re at right now.”
Tannehill talked with reporters as usual. The quarterback, who missed five games last season after spraining that same ankle twice, walked very gingerly to and from the podium wearing an apparent compression sock on his right leg.
With the Titans (2-4) off last week for their open date after losing 24-16 to the Baltimore Ravens in London on Oct. 16, Tannehill started the recovery process, wearing a cast into last weekend before moving to a walking boot and a scooter to keep his weight off that ankle. He was off that by Tuesday.
He didn’t practice Wednesday, instead getting treatment early. Tannehill said he planned to come out and keep up with the game plan for the Falcons (4-3). He had a tightrope surgery after his second sprain last season and said the “cables (are) in there doing their job.”
“Frustrating that it happened, but it’s trending the right direction and healing,” Tannehill said. “And I can tell that it’s healing. It’s feeling a lot better. You know, every couple of days I can notice a big difference. So I hope to keep on the track.”
Willis, the 86th pick overall in 2022 out of Liberty, has backed up Tannehill since being drafted. Willis started all three preseason games this year, with Levis missing the last two with an injury. Willis also replaced Tannehill in the loss to Baltimore after the veteran starter exited with the injury.
Willis, drafted by a general manager who was fired last December, is 1-2 as a starter, has yet to throw his first NFL touchdown pass and has been picked off three times.
If Levis winds up starting, he would be the seventh rookie to start at least once this season and third inside the AFC South Division, joining Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts and C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans in the latter group.
Atlanta coach Arthur Smith, the former Titans offensive coordinator who worked for Vrabel for three seasons, said it doesn’t matter who plays quarterback.
“He could put (a reporter) out there, and he’d have him ready to go,” Smith said of his former boss.
The Titans started prepping both Willis and Levis with the first-team offense last week. Levis said he’s excited to play if that is what happens and credited Tannehill with helping both of the backups prepare if called.
“He’s been incredible to learn from, and his experience goes a long way,” Levis said. “And (I) could have been with a team and played right away, could have not played until a point like whenever. But like I said, the preparation’s still the same. I’m glad that Ryan’s along the way to help that preparation.”