Willis completed four of five passes for 74 yards during the 2023 season with the Titans. He added five rushes for 21 yards.
Willis appeared in only three games during the season, the latest of which came in Week 8. His only pass attempts came in Week 6 in relief of Ryan Tannehill, and he otherwise spent much of his season as the third-string quarterback. With Tannehill's tenure in Tennessee almost certainly over, Willis may enter the 2024 campaign as the backup to Will Levis (foot).
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Titans' Malik Willis: Inactive in Week 11
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Willis (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
Willis has served as the backup to Will Levis with Ryan Tannehill (ankle) sidelined. However, with Tannehill active Sunday, Willis will serve only as the emergency third quarterback.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Likely part of QB timeshare
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Head coach Mike Vrabel said Friday that both Willis and Will Levis will take snaps at quarterback Sunday against the Falcons with Ryan Tannehill (ankle) ruled out for Week 8, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Vrabel made similar comments about the Titans' quarterback situation earlier in the week when Tannehill's status for Sunday's game looked to be in doubt, and the coach hasn't named a fill-in starter even with Tannehill having now been officially ruled out. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Wednesday that Levis is being prepped for the start and is expected to see the bulk of the playing time behind center, and even if that comes to pass, Willis is still expected to have a role in the game plan. If the two quarterbacks don't alternate series, the Titans could make use of the more mobile Willis by deploying him as a change-of-pace option behind Levis.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Will serve as No. 2 QB
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Willis is active and will serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind Ryan Tannehill on Sunday versus New Orleans, Joe Rexrode of The Athletic reports.
Willis and rookie second-round pick Will Levis were competing for the top backup spot during preseason action, and it appears the former has won the job for now, as the latter is a healthy scratch for Week 1. Willis struggled in limited action last year but will be the first man up if Tannehill is sidelined again in 2023.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Mixed bag in extensive action
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Willis completed 15 of 20 passes for 211 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions in Friday's 23-7 preseason win over New England.
Ryan Tannehill played three snaps without throwing a pass attempt, while Will Levis (thigh) was held out entirely despite saying Wednesday that he expected to be ready. Willis surprisingly ran for only 17 yards despite playing the entire night after the first drive, instead providing an entertaining mix of good and bad plays with his right arm. He and Levis have been competing for the No. 2 QB job this summer, and the winner heading into Week 1 won't necessarily retain the spot throughout the season.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Expects big workload Saturday
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Willis is expected to be under center for the Titans for the entirety of Saturday's exhibition game against the Vikings, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.
Willis' big workload comes at the expense of Will Levis, who is dealing with a lower body issue. As a result, the second-year signal caller will get an opportunity to showcase his talents for a full game. He completed 16 of 25 passes for 189 yards and one interception in Tennessee's opening preseason contest against the Bears, while adding 22 yards and one touchdown across three carries on the ground. Willis alternated possessions with Levis in that contest.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Rotates with Levis
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Willis completed 16 of 25 pass attempts for 189 yards and one interception in Tennessee's preseason game against Chicago on Saturday, adding 22 yards and one touchdown on three carries.
Willis started but then rotated series with second-round pick rookie Will Levis, who finished 9-of-14 for 85 yards and an interception. Both quarterbacks struggled to handle the pass rush, as each was sacked four times. It's not clear what this game means for the competition between Willis and Levis behind starter Ryan Tannehill, but it seems safe to say that Willis had the better production in this game. Levis had only a six-yard carry as a runner, and he incurred four sacks on just 14 attempts, which looks worse than Willis' four sacks versus 25 attempts. The competition figures to be ongoing.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Remains backup for now
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Willis remains the backup quarterback in the immediate aftermath of the draft, but he will have to earn the role moving forward, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The Titans selected Willis in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, so to call his future with the team into question appears drastic on the surface. However, after he struggled immensely in limited action as a rookie, Tennessee opted to spend an early second-round selection on Will Levis in this year's draft. Ryan Tannehill remains the clear starter for the time being, though coach Mike Vrabel said that he will let the player's performance dictate their spot on the depth chart as the season draws closer. As a result, Willis is heading into a pivotal time for his pro career, even though he's entering only his second season.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Will be backup QB on Saturday
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Willis will operate as the backup quarterback behind Joshua Dobbs for Saturday's regular-season finale against Jacksonville, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
With Ryan Tannehill (ankle) on injured reserve, Willis drew the start Week 16, but he threw two interceptions and was benched for Week 17. While the Titans lost to Dallas last Thursday, Vrabel said he was encouraged by the way Dobbs played and is confident in the veteran's ability. Willis is a rookie third-round pick and figures to have a future in Tennessee, but barring an injury, it appears like he'll be relegated to bench duties for the remainder of the 2022 campaign.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Candidate to start finale
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Coach Mike Vrabel is still deciding whether Willis or Joshua Dobbs will start the regular season finale against the Jaguars, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
The Titans went with Dobbs against Dallas on Thursday, and the 27-year-old quarterback threw for a respectable 232 yards with one touchdown and two turnovers in the 27-13 loss. Willis is more capable of making plays with his legs, but the rookie third-round pick out of Liberty failed to break triple digits in passing yards in any of his first three NFL starts. Needing a Week 18 win to make the postseason, the Titans will prioritize winning now over any future development, which could give Dobbs the inside track given Willis' struggles as a passer to date.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Not expected to start Thursday
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The Titans are expected to start Josh Dobbs rather than Willis in Thursday's game against the Cowboys, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
With Ryan Tannehill (ankle) already ruled out for the contest and likely done for the regular season, the Titans will get their first look at Dobbs, who was signed off the Lions' practice squad last week. Though the Titans are set to hold out a number of key players with an eye toward being as healthy as possible for a Week 18 matchup with the Jaguars that will decide the AFC South champion, Willis' expected absence may have more to do with his poor performance in place of Tannehill this season. Through the first eight appearances (three starts) of his rookie campaign, Willis has completed 31 of 61 attempts (50.8 percent) for 276 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions. He's also lost two fumbles, which has negated some of the value he's provided as a runner (123 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries). With that in mind, Dobbs could put himself in consideration to start the regular-season finale if he acquits himself well Thursday.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Ugly effort in loss
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Willis completed 14 of 23 passes for 99 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in Saturday's 19-14 loss to the Texans. He added seven rushes for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Willis drew his fourth start of the season with Ryan Tannehill (ankle) sidelined, but he struggled to get the Titans' offense moving. He averaged only 4.3 yards per attempt and his longest completion of the day went for just 14 yards. In addition, Willis threw a pair of interceptions, the first of which came on a potential game-winning drive inside Houston territory late in the fourth quarter. Positively, he did tally a 14-yard rushing score midway through the third quarter. While that hinted at his potential to excel, Willis' outlook for the final two games of the regular season is not positive.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Should get at least two starts
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Willis is expected to start Saturday's game against the Texans as well as the Titans' Week 17 matchup with the Cowboys next Thursday while Ryan Tannehill (ankle) is sidelined through at least Week 18 after undergoing a surgical procedure earlier this week, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Tannehill had a tightrope procedure on his right ankle after he suffered the injury during the Titans' first possession of last week's loss to the Chargers. Though Tannehill missed just one series before checking back in and finishing out the game, he didn't practice in any fashion this week after opting for surgery. Rapoport relays that a three-week recovery timeline typically represents a best-case scenario for these kind of procedures, but Schefter reports that Tannehill is still viewed as a "long shot" for a Week 18 matchup with the Jaguars, a game that could determine the AFC South champion. At least for the next two weeks, the Titans will have to turn to Willis, who previously started for an injured Tannehill in Weeks 8 and 9. Though the Titans beat the Texans and lost to the Chiefs in overtime during that two-game stretch, Willis wasn't asked to do much while Tennessee leaned heavily on running back Derrick Henry. Willis attempted just 26 total passes over those two starts, completing 11 of those throws for 135 yards and an interception while adding 52 yards and 13 carries.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Stepping in for injured Tannehill
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Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed Thursday that Willis will start Saturday's game against the Texans with Ryan Tannehill (ankle) ruled out for the contest, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
For the time being, Tennessee has ruled Tannehill out only for the Week 16 contest, but Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reported Wednesday that the Titans' top signal-caller is "very likely" done for the season due to a right ankle injury that is expected to require surgery. Tannehill's absence sets up Willis to make his third start of the season, including his second against the Texans, which came back in the two teams' previous matchup in Week 8. During Willis' prior two-game run as the starter, the Titans leaned heavily on running back Derrick Henry, with the rookie signal-caller attempting just 26 total passes and accounting for only 135 yards the air between a win over Houston and a Week 9 loss to Kansas City. The speedy Willis at least proved to be more of a threat on the ground, rushing 13 times for 52 yards in those games. While his rushing ability gives him some theoretical fantasy upside, Willis' lack of reliable passing volume makes it difficult to justify starting him in one-quarterback lineups.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Sees action in Sunday's loss
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Willis completed three of four passes for 20 yards and gained eight rushing yards on one carry in Sunday's 17-14 loss to the Chargers.
The rookie was pressed into action in the first quarter when Ryan Tannehill was carted back to the locker room with an ankle injury, but the Titans' starting QB was able to return to the lineup before halftime, putting Willis back on the sideline. He's gotten snaps in seven games so far this season, but Willis is still looking for his first NFL touchdown, either through the air or on the ground.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Back to No. 2 role
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Willis will return to a backup role Sunday against the Broncos with Ryan Tannehill (ankle) active for the contest and cleared to start, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
While Tannehill was sidelined for the past two weeks, Willis started but handled little more than a caretaker role while the Titans leaned even more heavily into the Derrick Henry-led ground attack. Willis showed some rushing upside of his own by carrying 13 times for 52 yards in games against the Texans and Chiefs in Weeks 8 and 9, respectively, but he showed little polish as a passer, completing just 11 of 26 attempts for 135 yards and an interception. So long as Tannehill stays healthy the rest of the way, Willis' remaining opportunities this season will likely come in garbage-time situations late in games.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Struggles in second start
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Willis completed just five of 16 pass attempts for 80 yards and rushed eight times for 40 yards in Sunday's 20-17 overtime loss to Kansas City.
Willis was thrust into another start with Ryan Tannehill (ankle) still unavailable due to injury. The rookie performed better than his mediocre stat line would suggest, as he was able to protect the ball and provide enough of a threat with his legs to allow Derrick Henry (17/115/2) to eat. Willis' inexperience showed down the stretch when he suffered a couple of drive-killing sacks while trying to extend broken plays. Ryan Tannehill was questionable leading up to this primetime loss, so the the third-round pick may find himself back at No. 2 on the quarterback depth chart for next Sunday's tilt against the Broncos. If the former is unable to go, Willis should be treated as a low-end fantasy option based on his poor results over his two emergency starts.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Getting Week 8 start
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Willis is expected to start Sunday against the Texans with Ryan Tannehill (illness/ankle) officially unable to play, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Tannehill started each of the Titans' past 49 games, but with the veteran on the mend due to an ankle sprain and also struggling with an illness, the team will turn to the 2022 third-round pick to make his first career start. It's possible Willis could actually improve a passing attack that currently ranks 25th in the NFL given Houston's defense will have to account for the rookie's explosiveness as a runner, but it's also fair to point out Willis' struggles as a passer in the preseason, which accounts for his only real action at the NFL level. Expect a heavy dose of Derrick Henry to help Willis ease his way into the contest to start, but provided the Titans uncork the athletic weapon, the Liberty product could be in for an intriguing fantasy day.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Prepping for possible Week 8 start
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Willis took reps with the first-team offense at Friday's practice and would be in line to start Sunday against the Texans if Ryan Tannehill (ankle) -- who is listed as questionable for the contest -- is unable to play, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com reports.
Tannehill has started each of the Titans' last 49 games, but his availability for Week 8 is in jeopardy after he missed a pair of practices this week -- including Friday's session -- while managing a right ankle injury. According to McCormick, head coach Mike Vrabel said that the Titans will likely wait as long as possible to see how Tannehill heals up from the injury before determining the quarterback's availability for Sunday's contest, so Tannehill is seemingly trending toward a game-time decision ahead of the 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff. If Tannehill is inactive this weekend or dresses an emergency backup, Willis, a rookie third-round pick out of Liberty, would at least make for an intriguing option in DFS contests or in two-quarterback or superflex season-long leagues. Willis has taken just 19 regular-season snaps, but the dual-threat signal-caller turned some heads in the preseason with 28 completions for 318 yards and two touchdowns on 51 attempts while amassing 159 yards and a score on 14 carries.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Inefficient passing night in win
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Willis completed seven of 17 pass attempts for 80 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and rushed five times for 42 yards during the Titans' 13-3 preseason win over the Buccaneers on Saturday night.
Willis started the game as expected with Ryan Tannehill getting the night off and was consistently frustrated early, as the Titans turned it over on downs and punted twice apiece in their first four possessions while gaining a total of just 34 yards. However, Willis subsequently helped lead a 13-play, 78-yard march that ended in a Randy Bullock field goal and then threw a six-yard touchdown toss to Chigoziem Okonkwo just before halftime. The rookie third-round pick took another three sacks as well, so it's clear he has plenty of work to do when it comes to pocket awareness and accuracy while working as Tannehill's understudy this coming season. Willis should get another solid allotment of playing time with which to continue working out the kinks next Saturday night against the Cardinals in Tennessee's preseason finale.
