Posted on: October 25, 2023, 09:25h.
Last updated on: October 25, 2023, 09:25h.
The Tennessee Titans are facing a quarterback dilemma as they lost Ryan Tannehill to an ankle injury two weeks ago. Rookie backup Will Levis is expected to make his first start for the Titans in Week 8 against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Titans, who currently have a 2-4 record, had a bye in Week 7 and will be looking to bounce back after losing their previous two games. Injuries have been a major issue for several teams in the AFC South, with half of the teams starting backup quarterbacks, including the Titans and the Indianapolis Colts.
Gardner Minshew will be filling in for Anthony Richardson on the Colts, as Richardson is out for the season recovering from shoulder surgery. Meanwhile, Trevor Lawrence from the Jacksonville Jaguars, although not missing any games, is nursing a knee injury.
Tannehill Suffers Another Ankle Injury
Ryan Tannehill sustained a right ankle injury during the second half of the Titans’ game against the Baltimore Ravens in London. Despite attempting to play through the pain, Tannehill was eventually forced to exit the game in the third quarter. The Titans’ backup quarterback, Malik Willis, finished the game, but the team ended up losing 24-16. An MRI later revealed that Tannehill had suffered a similar injury to the one he had last season, raising concerns about his availability for Week 8.
“I tried to gut it out,” said Tannehill. “I couldn’t get any force into the throws. Knew I wasn’t going to be able to move. Tried to keep walking it off, but it was getting worse and worse. I wasn’t going to be able to make the throws.”
Willis completed 4-of-5 passes for 74 yards in relief of Tannehill, but was sacked four times by the Ravens’ defense. Last season, Willis had started a game for the Titans but had failed to secure a win. The team turned to Josh Dobbs in the final two games of the season, but their losing streak continued, leading to a missed playoff opportunity.
Willis and Levis Combo in Week 8
Titans’ head coach Mike Vrabel has yet to officially announce the starting quarterback for the game against the Falcons, but there have been suggestions that both Willis and rookie Will Levis could see action on the field. Multiple outlets, including the NFL Network, have reported that Levis will indeed get his first start on Sunday.
The Titans’ lack of confidence in Willis, combined with Tannehill’s injury, led them to select Levis in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. It is worth noting that Tannehill has struggled this season, completing just 62% of his passes with two touchdowns and six interceptions.
Betting on the Titans
As for the betting odds, despite their current 2-4 record, the Titans are listed as +700 underdogs to win the AFC South. The division is currently led by the Jacksonville Jaguars (+425 odds), followed by the Houston Texans (+330 odds), and the Colts as the long shot with +1200 odds.
Furthermore, the Titans have odds of +425 to make the playoffs, while their odds of missing the postseason for the second consecutive year are listed at -600.
In their upcoming matchup against the Falcons, the Titans are considered +2.5 home underdogs. The Falcons, currently leading the NFC South, have struggled against the point spread this season, with a 2-5 ATS record. The Titans, on the other hand, have a 3-3 ATS record.