Report: Titans' Ryan Tannehill facing 'uphill battle' to play in Week 16
Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill re-injured his right ankle during the Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Chargers and now his status is in doubt for Week 16 against the Houston Texans.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, despite the fact that Tannehill was able to gut it out on Sunday, the veteran signal-caller has an "uphill battle" to play in Week 16.
"He is as tough as they come. If there is any way Tannehill can be on the field, he's going to be out there, but my understanding is this is an uphill battle for Ryan Tannehill to be ready this weekend," Pelissero said Tuesday on "Good Morning Football."
This is potentially disastrous news for the Titans, who desperately need a win in Week 16 to keep the surging Jacksonville Jaguars off their back in the AFC South. The Jags are a win and Titans loss away from taking over first place.
Tannehill dealt with an injury to the same ankle earlier in the season that forced him to miss two games. Should Tannehill sit, rookie quarterback Malik Willis will get the nod.
"I'm very confident that we monitor the ability not to make an injury worse or put the player at jeopardy," head coach Mike Vrabel said in his Tuesday press conference, "hopeful that they can protect themselves and very aware of that when we make those decisions and then we kind of go from there."
Willis started both of the games Tannehill missed, including one against the Texans. But it was clear the team's offense was even more limited than usual through the air with him under center.
Willis saw one drive on Sunday while Tannehill was getting checked out and completed 3-of-4 passes for 20 yards, while also adding an eight-yard rush.
After the game, Vrabel noted that the rookie looked more comfortable than he ever has. Hopefully Willis can carry that into Week 16 in what is the biggest game of the year for the Titans.
Paste BN Sports+ producer Victoria Hernandez contributed to this story.