The Titans will not be at full strength when they take on the Texans in a pivotal AFC South matchup Sunday.
Tennessee (4-2) will look to advance to 3-0 in divisional play this year; no other South team has more than one win against division opponents entering Week 8 of the NFL season. But it will have to do so without starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
The 10th-year quarterback and four-year Tennessee starter has been ruled out for the game because of multiple injury issues. It's unlikely he will miss multiple games.
Tannehill (95-of-146 passing, 1,097 yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions) has struggled in Tennessee's last four games, all wins. He has completed 64 of 93 passes (68.8 percent) for 714 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. He has yet to throw for more than 300 yards in a game this season, and in each of his last three games he has failed to eclipse 200 yards passing.
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How much Tannehill's absence will impact the game remains to be seen. Here's everything you need to know about his status ahead of the matchup:
Ryan Tannehill injury update
Tannehill will miss Sunday's game vs. the Texans with a stomach bug and a sprained ankle. The former reportedly was the main cause of concern ahead of the game.
Tannehill missed a second consecutive day of practice Saturday with the stomach ailment. The ankle sprain he suffered in Tennessee's Week 7 win over the Colts limited him in practice on Wednesday and Thursday.
He returned to the game with his ankle heavily taped and was later seen wearing a walking boot to help manage his pain. Tannehill's franchise record of 49 consecutive starts at quarterback will end Sunday.
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Titans QB depth chart
With Tannehill out, there's no doubt who will fill in for him: rookie third-round pick Malik Willis. The franchise's presumed quarterback of the future has gotten minimal playing experience in 2022.
The former Liberty star has been credited with just 20 snaps in two games. The first game was a Week 2 loss to Buffalo in which he completed 1 of 4 passes for 6 yards, to go with four rushes for 16 yards. He also lost a fumble.
Willis was credited with three plays in the Week 7 win over the Colts, one of which was a fumble on a would-be sweep.
"Being prepared is probably my best bet," Willis said Friday of the prospect of starting. "You have to prepare like you're going to be the starter every week."
Willis was the Titans' starter in each of their three preseason games. He completed 28 of 51 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns to one interception, and added 14 rushes for 159 yards and a score. He also took nine sacks for a loss of 53 yards.
Logan Woodside will be elevated from the practice squad Sunday to back up Willis.