Ahead of the team releasing its final injury report of the week on Thursday, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel revealed a total of seven players have been ruled out for Week 16 against the Houston Texans.
The biggest name on the list is quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who is expected to be out for the rest of the 2022 campaign. In his place, rookie quarterback Malik Willis will make his third career start, and second against Houston.
While there was a lot of bad news on the injury front on Thursday, Vrabel did say he’s optimistic that wide receiver Treylon Burks and cornerback Tre Avery would clear concussion protocol.
Also not included in the list of players ruled out were Amani Hooker and Denico Autry, which means both have a chance to play. Autry has missed the last four games, while Hooker was absent in Week 15.
#Titans WR Treylon Burks and CB Tre Avery were full participants in Thursday practice. Mike Vrabel is hopeful that both will clear protocol and play on Saturday.
— Sam Phalen (@Sam_Phalen) December 22, 2022
Now, a look at the full list of seven Titans who have been ruled out. You can check out the Titans’ full injury report right here.
Out: QB Ryan Tannehill (ankle)
With Tannehill sidelined for the rest of the season, the Titans will get a head start on seeing what Malik can do over these final three games (and quite possibly four or more if the Titans make the playoffs).
And, this might be the last we see of Tannehill as the starter for the Titans, but we won’t know for sure until the upcoming offseason.
Out: C Ben Jones (concussion)
This is Jones’ second concussion of the 2022 season after missing two games earlier in the year with the same injury. With what we know about head injuries, we just hope Jones is OK.
With Nate Davis (ankle) also out, we’d guess it’ll be Corey Levin at center and Jordan Roos at right guard. Brewer can slide over to center if that’s the approach the Titans want to take, which would leave Roos and Levin at the guard spots.
Out: RG Nate Davis (ankle)
As if things couldn’t get any worse upfront, the Titans will not have Davis on Saturday.
With Ben Jones (concussion) also ruled out and Dillon Radunz (knee) on IR, the Titans will likely deploy Corey Levin at center and Jordan Roos at right guard. The Titans also have the option of sliding Brewer over to center and putting Levin and Roos at the guard spots.
Out: CB Kristian Fulton (groin)
Fulton will miss his third-straight game. The good news is the Titans look like they’ll be getting Tre Avery back. Regardless, this defense takes a hit without the LSU product.
Out: CB Terrance Mitchell (hamstring)
Mitchell was ruled out almost immediately upon suffering a hamstring injury last week. He was filling in for Fulton but likely would’ve taken a backseat to Avery if both played.
Out: LB Dylan Cole (ankle)
Hopefully the Titans can activate Zach Cunningham off injured reserve for this game, otherwise they will be extremely thin at linebacker.
Monty Rice will man one of the starting spots for sure, but if Cunningham doesn’t play, it remains to be seen who will start next to Rice. The potential options are Jack Gibbens, Joe Jones and Andre Smith (practice squad).
Out: DB Josh Thompson (concussion)
More secondary depth and special teams help on the shelf for Tennessee in Week 16.
