What happened to Ryan Tannehill? Reason why Titans QB is not playing tonight vs. Cowboys on TNF
The Tennessee Titans play host to Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, but Ryan Tannehill won't be a part of it. After having surgery on his injured ankle last week, there was a slight chance that the quarterback could be in line for an unexpected return this season.
On Thursday, the Titans dismissed any idea of Tannehill's return as they placed him on Injured Reserve, effectively ending his season (the Titans would need to make the AFC Championship game for him to return).
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So technically, the quarterback isn't done for the season, but there is little hope that either Joshua Dobbs (starting vs. Cowboys) or rookie Malik Willis could take the Titans that far.
The #Titans have placed QB Ryan Tannehill on Injured Reserve, almost certainly ending his season. OLB Bud Dupree and LB Zach Cunningham, too.
After back-to-back good seasons that led the Titans to the playoffs, Tannehill has endured a tough 2022 season. He is 6-6 as a starter through 12 games, and his completion percentage is the worst it has been for three years.
With rookie Willis and now Dobbs, Mike Vrabel can see what he has in the quarterback room, with the veteran, for all intents and purposes, out for the year.
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Thought to be one of the teams to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills for the AFC, the Titans have not had the best season. Currently sitting at 7-8 (the worst record for three years), they will have to rely on beating the Jacksonville Jaguars next week to make three straight playoff appearances.
Without Tannehill, that is a challenging task. Even with the veteran quarterback, the Titans were 6-6 and struggling to stay afloat. With the veteran now on injured reserve and his season essentially finished due to an ankle injury, the Titans' season is in a precarious situation.
With questions surrounding the quarterback's future after Tennessee drafted Willis, there is a chance for someone to come and take the job from Tannehill. The jury is still out on him if he can be the one to lead the Titans to a Super Bowl, but that chance may have gone by him now.