Tennessee Titans QB Ryan Tannehill out for Houston Texans game; Malik Willis will start
The Tennessee Titans have ruled quarterback Ryan Tannehill out for Saturday's game against the Houston Texans with his ankle injury suffered last week, Mike Vrabel announced Thursday.
Malik Willis will make his third start of the season and the first since an OT loss at Kansas City on Nov. 6.
"He's out," Vrabel said. "It's just out this week. I don't have to give you an injury report for next week until next week."
Tannehill injured his right ankle on the third play of the game last Sunday at the Los Angeles Chargers, was carted off from the sidelines, but returned to lead the Titans offense after missing one series. Tannehill led the Titans (7-7) to a game-tying touchdown drive in the final minute, though the Chargers hit a field goal in the final seconds to secure a 17-14 victory.
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Tannehill missed the season's first game against the Houston Texans (1-12-1) in October with an ankle injury, which allowed Willis to make his first career start. Willis led the Titans to a 17-10 victory in Houston, though he was limited to 6-of-10 passing for 55 yards with an interception and 12 rushing yards. Vrabel has seen growth in Willis since his two starts in midseason.
"I've seen the way that his reps are coming in our show team and trying to get him to act like the starting quarterback and lead that unit and communicate our language, the call that's on the card, the operation, the snap count, the cadence, whether we go on the ball the next play," Vrabel said Tuesday. "All those looks that we try to give him, I've seen a lot of maturity and growth in that regard."
The Titans also ruled out center Ben Jones (concussion), guard Nate Davis (ankle), cornerbacks Kristian Fulton (groin) and Terrance Mitchell (hamstring), linebacker Dylan Cole (ankle) and defensive back Josh Thompson (concussion). That leaves the offensive line especially thin, with Jones and Davis absent Saturday along with Dillon Radunz, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.
Tennessee, on a four-game losing streak, faces Houston at noon Saturday with a shot to get back over .500 and retain or build on the one-game lead over Jacksonville in the AFC South.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans QB Ryan Tannehill out for Houston Texans game
