NASHVILLE — Quarterback Ryan Tannehill's season is likely at an end for the Tennessee Titans (7-7) according to PaulKuharsky.com. Tannehill was carted off the field with an ankle injury in Tennessee's Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6).

The Titans quarterback returned in the second quarter and finished the game completing 15 of his 22 passing attempts for 165 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.

Rookie Malik Willis will again be called on to start for Tennessee. The 2022 third-round pick has appeared in seven games for the Titans this season with two starts in Weeks 8 and 9. Tennessee rolled over the Houston Texans, their next opponent and fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime with Willis under center.

While he is far from what anyone would consider ready, Tannehill's unfortunate end may force the Titans to do something they probably should be doing anyway.

Titans need to find out what they have in Willis

If Ryan (Tannehill) is healthy and can play," coach Mike Vrabel said on Monday. "Then Ryan will be our quarterback."

Tannehill has certainly earned that kind of deference given what he has provided for Tennessee. But at 7-7 and with the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8) lurking in the AFC South muck, these Titans have felt doomed to sink lately. Those same Jags cracked open a can of whoop ass in Tennessee a few weeks ago, sending Vrabel's mash unit to LA to take their fourth consecutive loss.

A streak like that is a first in the Vrabel Era.

Turning the remainder of this season over to Willis is not in the best interest of this season's competitiveness. A hobbled Tannehill still gives the Titans the best chance to win football games in their present state. With general manager Jon Robinson's recent firing, however, personnel evaluation has never been more important for this franchise.

Being forced to play Willis will at least give the next head of personnel in Tennessee a proper sample size to make this offseason's most critical decision: where to go at quarterback.

Tennessee in desperate need of a win

Houston comes into this game at a lowly 1-12-1.

They are in line for the first overall selection of the 2023 draft, and have shut down promising rookies Dameon Pierce and Derek Stingley, Jr. for the season. Willis' first start of this season in relief of Tannehill came on the road against the Texans. The rookie completed six of his ten attempts for 55 yards passing and an interception.

Only one of those 10 passes was thrown in the entire second half.

Tennessee railroaded Houston that day to the tune of 314 rushing yards. The Texans continue to boast the NFL's worst rush defense, allowing opponents to pick up 4.9 yards per attempt. If this woeful version of the Titans can manage to get off the mat against anyone, Houston is the best case remaining on Tennessee's schedule.

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And if Vrabel and his staff can learn how to win with Willis and see legitimate growth at the same time, it's a plus.

"Malik (Willis) has put a lot of work into the show team, trying to play the game, command the huddle, and do all the things that we've talked about in how he needs to try to develop during the week when there aren't a lot of reps," said Vrabel. "He did that. Pat (O’Hara) is watching all those reps with him.

"We talked about not making bad decisions in the jog through just because it's a jog through. He tried to break contain just to give the guys a look last week with Trevor Lawrence. He kind of threw it back across to the middle of the field, and it was a good opportunity for me just to say, ‘Hey, I think we need to just take off or try to progress and find somebody on the sidelines, and not make those decisions in practice because we would never want you to do that.’ We're always trying to coach him, and I think he has learned from those opportunities. He was ready to go into the game and try to help us (against the Chargers)."

Willis will have ample opportunity to show that he can help the Titans both now and in the future while Tannehill is on the mend.

Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.