Reports: Titans QB Ryan Tannehill Unlikely to Play in Week 8 Game vs. Falcons

Multiple reports on Sunday morning said that it's unlikely Ryan Tannehill will be able to start at quarterback next week for the Tennessee Titans. He suffered a high ankle injury last week in London, and could miss multiple games, according the reports, leaving QB duties to either Malik Willis or Will Levis.

NASHVILLE — When the Tennessee Titans get back on the field next Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons at Nissan Stadium, it seems likely that they will do that without starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

There were several reports on the NFL pregame shows on Sunday morning and on social media that the 35-year-old veteran will not be able to play because of a high ankle sprain suffered last Sunday in London while the Titans were losing 24-16 to the Baltimore Ravens.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport said that sources have told him Tannehill is still wearing a cast for his high ankle sprain, which is suffered late in last Sunday's game. Rapoport said it's ''unlikely that he will play'' next Sunday when the Titans host the Atlanta Falcons at Nissan Stadium.

The Titans, who have a bye this week, haven't updated Tannehill's status yet, and probably won't until Wednesday. They practiced a few times last week before everyone dispersed for the weekend, with second-year quarterback Malik Willis and rookie Will Levis taking all the reps with the first unit.

Tannehill has struggled through the early going. The Titans are 2-4, wining twice at home against the Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals, but losing three road games at New Orleans, Cleveland and Indianapolis, and again last week in what was technically a home game in London.

He's only thrown two touchdown passes so far, and has six interceptions. He's 98-for-158 passing — just 62 percent — has thrown for only 1,128 yards and has been sacked 19 times. 

He had ankle issues last season as well and eventually had to have surgery. The Titans struggled down the finish, losing their last seven games.

Willis, a rookie out of Liberty and Auburn before that, got three starts while Tannehill was out last year, and didn't play well in any of them. He seemed in over his head often, and never threw for more than 99 yards in a game. It was so bad that the Titans actually signed former Tennessee Volunteer Josh Dobbs off the street to start the final two games of the season. He threw for a total of 411 in the losses to Dallas and Jacksonville.

The Titans and new general manager Ran Carthon went quarterback shopping during this spring's NFL Draft. They interviewed all the top potential draftees, and when former Kentucky standout Will Levis wasn't drafted in the first round as expected, they moved up on Day 2 to get him, taking him with the 33rd overall pick. 

The offseason and training camp was supposed to be the stage for Willis and Levis to battle it out for the No. 2 spot. They shared snaps in the first preseason game at Chicago — both did some good things — but then Levis suffered a thigh injury during workouts with the Minnesota Vikings and wasn't able to play in the final two preseason games.

Willis has been the No. 2 quarterback the first six weeks, but didn't see any action until last Sunday when Tannehill went down. It was a disaster. He was sacked four times in nine dropbacks, and was 4-for-5 passing for 74 with the one good play a 46-yard run-and-catch to rookie Tyjae Spears. 

It will be interesting to see if the Titans want to see more from Willis, or if they want Levis to get the chance. They were certainly high on him on draft day, and saw nice improvement in his game during training camp before the thigh injury.

The Titans will have media availability next on Tuesday, so we're hoping to learn more then. 

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