Tennessee Titans Quarterback Could Be Done for the Season

The ankle injury that Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill suffered in his team's Week 15 17-14 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers may be more severe than initially let on. According to Paul Kuharsky, Tannehill may undergo surgery that could cost him the remainder of the season.

#Titans QB Ryan Tannehill very likely done for season; Dillon Radunz tore ACL https://t.co/cK7jLgzlQJ

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) December 21, 2022

Tannehill only exited for a drive in the first half of Sunday's loss after suffering the ankle injury. He returned before halftime and ended the day having played 84% of the Titans' offensive snaps.

An extended Tannehill absence would thrust rookie Malik Willis into the starting lineup for a high-stakes final three weeks of the Titans' season. The Titans currently hold a one-game lead over their division rivals, the Jacksonville Jaguars. Willis has netted a minuscule 139 net passing yards on 34 dropbacks this season, going 1-1 across his two starts. He'll need to play much better for the Titans to hold onto the AFC South.

Tannehill joined the Titans via trade with Miami Dolphins in 2019. The Titans exchanged a 2019 seventh-round pick and a 2020 fourth-round pick for Tannehill and a 2019 sixth-round pick. He's established himself as a reliable and competent starter, leading the team to a 36-19 record over four seasons while averaging 225.1 passing yards per game and a 100.5 passer rating. The Titans spent a third-round pick on Willis this past draft hoping he could eventually prove an upgrade over Tannehill. He'll get his chance to show how much of a future he has in the coming weeks.