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Tennessee Titans News & Rumors

Titans To Start Malik Willis At QB; Ryan Tannehill Ill

October 29th, 2022 at 2:25pm CST by Ely Allen

With starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill missing three days of practice this week due to illness, along with an ankle sprain, the Titans are set to give rookie third-round pick Malik Willis the first start of his career, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. After extended time leading the offense in the preseason, Willis will face the Texans this Sunday afternoon for his first full game of NFL football.

Willis started all three preseason games for the Titans this August. In his playing time, Willis was able to display the dual-threat ability that made him such an attractive draft pick. In three games, Willis completed 28 of 51 pass attempts for 318 yards, throwing two touchdowns and one interception. On the ground, he was able to add 159 rushing yards and a touchdown on only 14 attempts.

Willis’ regular season action has been extremely limited as Tannehill holds a pretty secure grip on the starting job. He did, though, make his NFL debut late in a Week 2 blowout loss to the Bills. Head coach Mike Vrabel threw Willis right into the fire against one of the league’s best defenses, and it didn’t go great. Willis completed one of four pass attempts for only six yards in garbage time. He was able to get some production out of his legs, gaining 16 yards on four rushes, but lost a fumble in the process.

Willis didn’t get a ton of time with the team’s top receivers in his preseason play but was afforded the opportunity to work with the first team offense all of this week in practice. Unfortunately for Willis, quarterback isn’t the only position affected by injury in Tennessee. The Titans are one of the league’s more battered teams with 13 players currently on injured reserve, six of those being on offense and three of those being his pass catchers. In addition to those 13, the Titans have two players, fullback Tory Carter and pass rusher Rashad Weaver, who are set to sit out this weekend.

Willis’ healthy targets will consist of receivers Robert Woods, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Cody Hollister, and Chris Conley and tight ends Geoff Swaim and Austin Hooper. He should also be assisted by a rookie quarterback’s best friend: a strong run game. Having star running back Derrick Henry to draw a defense’s focus should open up the field for the rookie quarterback to find some success in his first start.

Tannehill is listed as questionable and is likely available to play in case of emergency, but the illness may be a blessing in disguise, letting the Titans rest their starting quarterback while allowing his sprained ankle a little extra time to heal. Likely a step between Willis and emergency, the Titans have elevated quarterback Logan Woodside from the practice squad. They will elevate defensive lineman Larrell Murchison for the weekend, as well.

The Titans currently reside atop one of the NFL’s weaker divisions at 4-2. With the second-place Colts undergoing a transition at quarterback, Tennessee should feel fairly comfortable with their division lead, allowing them to make this play at quarterback. Tannehill will get some rest and Willis will get some experience.

2022 NFL Cap Space, By Team

October 28th, 2022 at 12:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Days away from this year’s trade deadline (3pm CT, Nov. 1), a few teams have made some in-season moves to bolster their rosters. Several squads have also restructured contracts this season to create additional space. That extra room will matter as most teams will consider adding or subtracting costs before Tuesday’s deadline.

Here is how teams’ cap-space numbers (courtesy of OverTheCap) look ahead of the deadline:

  1. Cleveland Browns: $33.72MM
  2. Las Vegas Raiders: $10.35MM
  3. Carolina Panthers: $9.79MM
  4. Atlanta Falcons: $9.71MM
  5. Philadelphia Eagles: $9.47MM
  6. Denver Broncos: $7.79MM
  7. Pittsburgh Steelers: $7.69MM
  8. Indianapolis Colts: $7.23MM
  9. Dallas Cowboys: $7.16MM
  10. Chicago Bears: $7.08MM
  11. Green Bay Packers: $6.6MM
  12. Miami Dolphins: $6.16MM
  13. New York Jets: $5.71MM
  14. Los Angeles Chargers: $4.97MM
  15. San Francisco 49ers: $4.95MM
  16. Los Angeles Rams: $4.93MM
  17. Arizona Cardinals: $4.76MM
  18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $4.3MM
  19. Washington Commanders: $4.26MM
  20. Kansas City Chiefs: $3.86MM
  21. Seattle Seahawks: $3.71MM
  22. Jacksonville Jaguars: $3.67MM
  23. New Orleans Saints: $3.61MM
  24. Cincinnati Bengals: $3.31MM
  25. New York Giants: $3.26MM
  26. Detroit Lions: $3.25MM
  27. Baltimore Ravens: $3.07MM
  28. New England Patriots: $2.19MM
  29. Houston Texans: $2.09MM
  30. Buffalo Bills: $1.93MM
  31. Tennessee Titans: $1.59MM
  32. Minnesota Vikings: $852K

The Browns have held the top spot for months, and the gulf between their cap-space figure and the field almost certainly stems from a desire to carry over cap space before Deshaun Watson‘s cap number spikes from $9.4MM to a runaway-record $54.99MM. Cleveland has recently been linked to creating more cap space. Interest has come in for Greedy Williams, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, and Kareem Hunt. Although the Browns did not grant Hunt’s summer trade request, it may now take only a fourth-round pick for Cleveland to deal its backup running back.

Another potential seller could move up on this list while creating some additional space in 2023. The Broncos are believed to have made Jerry Jeudy available. Unlike fellow trade chip Bradley Chubb, Jeudy is under contract for 2023 (on a $4.83MM cap number). Denver appears more likely to move Chubb. That departure would remove the franchise tag from the team’s equation in 2023 — barring a tag for fellow 2023 UFA-to-be Dre’Mont Jones — thus freeing up more free agency funds. It will be interesting if the Broncos, if they are to move Chubb, agree to eat much of his fifth-year option salary. George Paton‘s club took on most of Von Miller‘s 2021 money to increase draft compensation.

The Eagles are still near the top despite acquiring Robert Quinn. Philadelphia is paying just $684K of Quinn’s contract, which now runs through 2022 instead of 2024. Chicago is on the hook for $7.1MM. The Bears are on track to have a gargantuan lead on the field for 2023 cap space. They are projected to hold more than $125MM next year, according to OverTheCap.

New Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney checks in at just $784K on their 2022 cap sheet. The former Giants first-rounder’s figures bump to $1.9MM (2023) and $2.53MM (’24). Kansas City recently restructured Travis Kelce‘s deal, creating some wiggle room for the Toney addition. The Chiefs, who did not touch Patrick Mahomes‘ deal this year, restructured Kelce’s contract twice in 2022. Thursday’s trade hit the Giants with a $2.33MM dead-money charge. Toney will count $3.67MM in dead money for the Giants in 2023.

The Panthers picked up nearly $19MM in 2022 dead money via the Robbie Anderson and Christian McCaffrey trades. Unlike the Eagles and Bears, last week’s Panthers-49ers McCaffrey swap did not involve Carolina taking on additional salary. McCaffrey’s offseason restructure dropped his 2022 base salary to the league minimum; the 49ers have him on their books at just $690K. McCaffrey’s record-setting extension will still represent $18.35MM in dead money on the Panthers’ 2023 cap, but his nonguaranteed base salaries from 2023-25 ($11.8MM, $11.8MM, $12MM) transferred fully from Carolina to San Francisco.

On the subject of 2022 dead money, the Bears lead the way with $80.32MM. The Falcons added to their total this month, however, by trading Deion Jones to the Browns. That deal saddled the Falcons with $11.38MM in additional dead money — accompanying the franchise’s record-setting Matt Ryan dead-money hit ($40.53MM) — and ballooned Atlanta’s overall total to $78.57MM. Ryan is off the Falcons’ books after this year, but Jones will carry a $12.14MM dead-money figure in 2023.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/22

October 25th, 2022 at 8:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor transactions:

Carolina Panthers

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Titans To Sign WR Chris Conley

October 25th, 2022 at 11:53am CST by Adam La Rose

Chris Conley is marking his 30th birthday by joining his third different team this season. The veteran wideout is signing with the Titans on their active roster, having previously been on the Chiefs’ practice squad (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network).

[RELATED: Tannehill Dealing With Ankle Injury]

Conley spent the first four years of his career with the Chiefs, registering 530 yards in 2016 and scoring five touchdowns two years later. His potential as a high-end complimentary pass catcher led him to Jacksonville as a free agent in 2019. Across two seasons in Duval County, he totaled 87 catches, 1,246 yards and seven scores.

That led the former third-rounder to Houston last season, where he made 10 starts and put up a 22-323-2 statline. He was among the team’s final round of roster cuts this season, but immediately re-signed with them in September. In 2022, he has bounced on and off of the Texans’ practice squad, making two appearances so far.

Earlier this month, Conley re-joined the Chiefs on a taxi squad deal. Unable to find playing time in Kansas City after the plethora of moves the team made in the wake of trading away Tyreek Hill, however, he will now look to do so with the Titans. The team’s passing game has been underwhelming so far, averaging less than 184 yards per game through the air.

A step back in that category was expected, after the Titans’ draft-day A.J. Brown trade. His replacement, first-round rookie Treylon Burks, is currently on IR after suffering a turf toe injury in Week 4. Conley could see snaps right away, but will likely be limited to a rotational role behind starters Robert Woods and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.

Ryan Tannehill Dealing With Ankle Injury

October 25th, 2022 at 10:04am CST by Adam La Rose

The Titans completed a season sweep of the Colts on Sunday, but quarterback Ryan Tannehill injured his ankle during the process. His post-game remarks pointed to a potential Week 8 absence.

“It doesn’t feel great,” the 34-year-old said of his ankle. “It comes with the territory… I’m going to be out there if I can at all, if at all possible. I’m going to do everything I can this week to get it right.”

Tannehill was wearing a walking boot on Sunday, a sign of how significant the injury is. It only sidelined him for one play during the contest, however, during which backup Malik Willis replaced him. The third-round rookie (who also saw two other snaps against the Colts, though not under center) would take on the starter’s role if Tannehill is unable to recover in time.

Head coach Mike Vrabel provided a positive update on the situation yesterday, however. “[Tannehill’s] progressing,” he said. “A lot of guys, day after the game, are in there getting treatment. We’ll continue to evaluate all of those guys and see where we are on Wednesday,” adding, “we’ll continue to see where Ryan is and we’ll get everybody ready that we feel like needs to get ready.”

Given Tannehill’s age and contract status, it came as little surprise when the Titans drafted Willis in April. The former had an underwhelming 2021 campaign, and has no guaranteed money on the final year of his contract in 2023, which carries a cap hit of $36.6MM. That led some to speculate before the regular season that a QB controversy could be coming soon, but it was reported in September that any changing of the guard would take place no earlier than next season.

Tannehill has helped lead the Titans to a division-leading 4-2 record, though he has guided an underwhelming offense in the process. Tennessee ranks 21st in scoring (19.2 points per game) and 31st in yards (292.5 per contest) through six weeks. His status will be worth monitoring in the coming days, in the build-up to the Titans’ Week 8 game against the Texans.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/23/22

October 24th, 2022 at 7:28pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s practice squad transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Denver Broncos

Las Vegas Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/22

October 22nd, 2022 at 4:45pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the league’s minor moves going into Week 7:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/18/22

October 18th, 2022 at 7:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad additions and subtractions:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: LB Blake Lynch
  • Released: WR Stanley Berryhill

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: S Innis Gaines
  • Released: CB Benjie Franklin, LB Ray Wilborn

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: WR DeMichael Harris

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Released: WR Kevin Kassis

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

TE Delanie Walker Retires After 14 Seasons

October 18th, 2022 at 10:42am CST by Adam La Rose

Delanie Walker has not seen the field since 2019, but today marks the official end of his career. The 38-year-old tight end has retired from the NFL after 14 seasons evenly split between the 49ers and Titans.

A 2006 sixth-round pick, Walker spent the first seven seasons of his career in San Francisco. He played an ancillary receiving role during his time in the Bay Area, though, never eclipsing 29 catches or three touchdowns in any one season there. His arrival in Tennessee as a free agent in 2013 was thus met with little fanfare relative to what he ultimately accomplished.

The Central Missouri State product’s first year as a Titan saw him set career-highs across the board in receiving, yardage and touchdown totals. He surpassed those figures during a three-year stretch from 2015-17, in which he was named a Pro Bowler each season. Across his first five campaigns in Nashville, Walker led the NFL in catches by a tight end; he ranks second in franchise history in that department with 381 receptions.

Ankle injuries derailed his final two seasons, however. Walker was limited to just eight games between 2018 and 2019. As a free agent in 2020, he drew interest from the Ravens and Patriots, but ultimately opted out of that season. He eyed a comeback last year, in which the 49ers hosted him for a potential reunion, but no deal materialized. Still, Walker looked back on his career in a positive light.

I would say it worked out better than I could have imagined,” Walker said of his time in Tennessee. “I dreamt about it, and made it come to life because I believed it would. I knew once I had the opportunity, I wasn’t going to let it get away from me. Playing in Tennessee, with the Titans, it was better than I ever dreamed of, and I can’t thank the Titans organization enough for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to do everything I was able to do. It was a dream come true.”

To no surprise, Walker is hanging up his cleats as a member of the Titans. He lamented the lost time due his numerous ankle ailments, but his NFL tenure can widely be viewed as successful given his career ascent in its second chapter.

“Playing this game, I did it for so long, I am so thankful,” he added. “Honestly, I wish I could have played more, but injuries took place and there you have it.”

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/17/22

October 17th, 2022 at 9:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s practice squad additions and subtractions:

Baltimore Ravens

Indianapolis Colts

Miami Dolphins

Tennessee Titans

Judging by Gordon’s minimal playing time at his fifth NFL stop, it certainly looks like he is nearing the end. Gordon signed with the Titans shortly after he did not make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster, and while Tennessee used the former All-Pro in two games, Gordon logged six snaps and did not catch a pass. Gordon, 31, has five receptions over the past two seasons. Board spent the past two seasons with the Giants; he caught 15 passes for 152 yards with the team in that span.

The Cardinals released Kennard multiple times this year, the first such transaction coming just before cutdown day. While the team circled back to the Phoenix native previously, the veteran pass rusher is now Baltimore-bound. Kennard, 31, signed a three-year, $20MM Cardinals deal in 2020 but did not deliver much production and accepted a pay cut this offseason. Kennard did not record a sack in 15 games last season, but the 11-year veteran did post back-to-back seven-sack slates during the 2018 and ’19 campaigns with Detroit. He will join a Ravens team that has added both Jason Pierre-Paul and Jeremiah Attaochu during the season.

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