How Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel evaluated QB Malik Willis after first start
HOUSTON − Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel had mixed reviews for rookie quarterback Malik Willis after the third-round pick's first start Sunday.
Willis led the Titans to a 17-10 win over the Texans, extending the winning streak to five games for the Titans (5-2). But Willis was hardly the reason the Titans won. Willis was 6-for-10 with 55 yards and an interception and ran four times for 13 yards. He attempted only one pass in the second half, a throw he heaved out of bounds under pressure.
Instead of Willis − who started in place of injured Ryan Tannehill − the Titans leaned on running back Derrick Henry for 219 yards and two TDs and a defense that held the Texans to less than 100 total yards until the final two minutes of the game.
When evaluating Willis' performance, Vrabel leaned into the good and bad.
ESTES:Thank Derrick Henry — and that defense —for Tennessee Titans' easiest win of season
TITANS REPORT CARD:Unpacking Derrick Henry's greatness, Malik Willis' debut
"I thought it got better today," Vrabel said. "There were some good things, and some things that if he’s our quarterback next week, if he’s our quarterback, we’ll have to be better. But that’ll be the same for just about everybody."
Vrabel did not give an update on Tannehill's health after the win. Tannehill, who injured an ankle last Sunday against the Colts, did not travel to Houston while also battling an illnes.
The Titans return to action next week against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in primetime.
Contact Nick Suss at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Mike Vrabel graded Tennessee Titans QB Malik Willis' 1st start
