Tennessee Titans QB Malik Willis evaluates performance in relief of Ryan Tannehill
LONDON — Malik Willis' job is to be ready. Until he's tested. At that point, he feels like his job is to win.
Willis, who the Tennessee Titans picked in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, was thrust into a one-score game in the second half Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens after starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill was injured.
The Titans lost 24-16, and when asked after the game how he evaluated his play, Willis kept a big-picture view.
"Your job is to be ready if called upon," Willis said of a backup quarterback's life. "We didn’t come out with the (win), so it’s on me. I’ve got to go back to the drawing board and understand what it takes."
Willis led two drives between the third and fourth quarters. The Titans trailed by eight with a chance to tie the score when he came into the game; the deficit was 11 on his second drive late in the fourth quarter. He was 4-for-5 passing with 74 yards and rushed three times for 17 yards, but also absorbed five sacks, counting plays waved off because of penalties, and failed to get his team into the end zone despite having a first-and-goal on the 1-yard line.
What Willis saw, and what he was told
After the game, Willis said that he wants to watch the film before he assigns any explanations to what worked and what didn't. Holding on to the ball too long and taking too many sacks were two of his big issues as a rookie, when he was sacked 10 times in three starts. But he also made some confident throws, too, and drew two coverage penalties on plays that won't count toward his stat sheet.
By the time Willis came in the game, the Titans were already playing without tight end Josh Whyle and receiver Chris Moore, both of whom were ruled out after entering concussion protocol during the game. With receiver Treylon Burks at home because of an ankle injury, Willis wasn't playing with the Titans' full offensive arsenal around him, something coach Mike Vrabel didn't want to ignore.
"We had a lot of moving parts," Vrabel said. "We had a lot of guys down. We’re back to that. Once you put yourself down two scores it’s difficult."
Tannehill told Willis to "start getting loose just in case" after his injury and that he was rooting for him. Willis said offensive coordinator Tim Kelly and quarterbacks coach Charles London told him to "have fun, be you and get that (win)." Receiver DeAndre Hopkins told him to just be comfortable and do what he does best.
All of that support didn't result in a win. But as Tannehill heads back home to have an MRI on his right ankle — the same ankle he injured last season that led to Willis making three starts — Willis is back where he was last winter. The Titans don't play next week, so he will spend the next two weeks preparing as if he's the starter, full well knowing Tannehill could heal quickly and rookie Will Levis is looking over his shoulder.
Unsurprisingly, Willis isn't thinking about that type of stuff just yet.
"(I'm) just taking it day by day," he said. "Whatever’s asked of me, I go and try my best."
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nickusss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans QB Malik Willis grades play relieving Ryan Tannehill
