Tennessee Titans: Malik Willis Finishes Strong in Debut

Former 2022 NFL Draft prospect, Malik Willis, had an impressive showing in his preseason debut versus the Baltimore Ravens.

Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback, Malik Willis, made the most of his first game in the NFL. While the team came up short in a 23-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Willis gave a glimpse of his lofty ceiling. Willis completed six passes on 11 attempts for 107 yards, and added 24 yards on the ground to go along with an exhilarating rushing touchdown. It was far from a perfect performance, but Willis showed enough good to excite Titans fans for what the future could hold.

With the Titans opting to sit starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, Willis was given the start and played the entire first half. Things didn’t get off to a great start, as Willis wasn’t able to connect on any of his first three pass attempts. But as the game went on, Willis seemed to settle in and completed six of his final eight passes. Most notably, hitting second-year receiver Racey McMath for a 48-yard catch downfield.

The Titans’ lone first-half touchdown came on a seven-yard scramble from Willis. After being chased out of the pocket, the former Liberty Flame standout was able to break contain and dodge Ravens first-round pick Kyle Hamilton. Willis dove into the end zone and caused a stir among everyone watching. Even if it was just a short run in a preseason game, the play served as yet another example of Willis’ highly publicized speed and rushing ability.

While Malik Willis was far from perfect, he was able to showcase all of the selling points that made him such an exciting prospect. The arm talent, athleticism, and ability to create outside of structure were all on display. He has plenty to clean up, including his technique and overall feel for the game, but Titans fans still should be intrigued by this performance.

Tennessee Titans: Could Malik Willis Be Ready to Start Sooner Than Everyone Expected?

What makes the Malik Willis situation so unique is that there is no clear timeline for him to be a starter. Being a third-round pick on a team that already has an established starter can be looked at a couple of ways. On one hand, Willis won’t be under much pressure to perform right away. On the other, he will have to truly earn playing time as it’s unlikely Tennessee will go out of its way to get Willis into games otherwise.

The Titans are a team that earned the top seed in the AFC in 2021 and will be looking to do the same again this coming season. Malik Willis has been widely regarded as a developmental prospect at quarterback, which was the number one knock on him entering the league. Still, he showed just enough promise that things in Nashville could get interesting if Ryan Tannehill struggles in 2022. Preseason isn’t the end all be all, but if Willis can build off his finish to last night’s game, he might be ready for the NFL sooner rather than later.