Packers' Malik Willis: Fills in for Love, leads team to win
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Willis completed four of five pass attempts for 56 yards and a touchdown while rushing four times for 23 yards in Sunday's 30-27 win over Jacksonville.
Willis entered Sunday's contest in the third quarter after starter Jordan Love (groin) exited due to injury. Green Bay's backup performed well in the win, holding a lead he inherited early in the second half and completing a key 51-yard pass to Jayden Reed on the final drive to set up Brandon McManus' game-winning field goal. Willis would be making his third start in place of Love should the latter sit out next Sunday's tilt against the Lions. In two prior starts for Green Bay, Willis accounted for three touchdowns and did not throw an interception.
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Packers' Malik Willis: Week 4 Waiver Priority List
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Jordan Love (knee) will hopefully return in Week 4 against Minnesota, but if he's out again then Willis can be considered a low-end starter in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. He just scored 27.4 Fantasy points in Week 3 at Tennessee, but he has a much tougher matchup in Week 4 against Minnesota. Still, if Love remains out again, Willis could remain a useful Fantasy option and is worth adding in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues for 5-10 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Packers' Malik Willis: Beats former team
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Willis completed 13 of his 19 passes for 202 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Sunday's 30-14 win over the Titans. He added six rushes for 73 yards and an additional touchdown.
Willis drew his second consecutive start, this one coming against the Titans, who traded him for a seventh-round pick in late August. It wasn't a big surprise to see Willis excel as a rusher, and he played a key role in that regard in each of the Packers' first two possessions by finding the end zone from five yards away and then accounting for 57 yards on the ground on the Green Bay's second drive that resulted in a field goal. What was more unexpected was his ability as a passer, as Willis was able to accurately distribute the ball to skill-position players while recording four completions of at least 30 yards -- highlighted by a 30-yard touchdown toss to Emanuel Wilson midway through the third quarter. Jordan Love (knee) is likely to be back for a Week 4 divisional matchup with Minnesota, but Willis has filled in admirably and gone 2-0 as a starter to this point.
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Packers' Malik Willis: Another spot start in place of Love
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Willis will be the Packers' starting quarterback for Sunday's game at Tennessee with Jordan Love (knee) inactive, Mike Spofford of the team's official site reports.
Willis is earning his second consecutive start in place of Love, who managed three straight limited practices before being listed as questionable for Week 3 action. Love clearly has made progress in his recovery from an MCL sprain that he sustained in the season opener, but the Packers again will exercise caution with their franchise quarterback. During last Sunday's win against the Colts, Willis completed 12 of 14 passes for 122 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions while taking six carries for 41 yards.
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Packers' Malik Willis: Expected to start Sunday
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Willis is likely to start at quarterback for the Packers in Sunday's game against the Titans with Jordan Love (knee) listed as questionable but not expected to play, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Love practiced in a limited fashion all week and was labeled as questionable on Friday's injury report, but he looks set to sit out at least one more game while recovering from an MCL sprain in his left knee. Willis may have made that decision a little easier with his performance last week, when he completed 12 of 14 passes for 122 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions while leading the Packers to a victory against Indianapolis. Assuming Love is inactive ahead of Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff, Sean Clifford would step in as the backup to Willis.
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Packers' Malik Willis: Effective in Week 2 start
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Willis completed 12 of 14 passes for 122 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions and added six rushes for 41 yards in the Packers' 16-10 win over the Colts on Sunday.
Willis proved more than competent with the limited game plan he was tasked with running, and both Josh Jacobs (151 rushing yards) and his defense (three interceptions, one sack) did plenty of heavy lifting. The 2022 third-round pick also was effective as a rusher, and he did average a solid 8.7 yards per attempt on his 14 drop backs. Willis' one touchdown toss went to Dontayvion Wicks from 14 yards out late in the first quarter, and he next takes on his former Titans squad on the road in a Week 3 road matchup as Love continues his multi-week recovery.
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Packers' Malik Willis: Week 2 Waiver Priority List
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We don't know how long Jordan Love (knee) will be out, but the Packers are planning to start Willis in Week 2 against the Colts -- for now. Green Bay could always add a veteran if Willis struggles, so keep that in mind, but Willis should be added in all Superflex and two-quarterback leagues for 5-10 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Packers' Malik Willis: Will start Week 2 if Love ruled out
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Coach Matt LaFleur said Monday that Willis will start Sunday's game against the Colts over Sean Clifford if Jordan Love (knee) isn't cleared to play, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports.
LaFleur didn't officially rule Love out for Week 2, but he said Willis will start until the franchise QB is ready to return. Reports have linked Love to a 3-to-6-week recovery timeline due to an MCL sprain, so though LaFleur is still leaving the door open for Love to play Sunday and said he won't go on IR, per Bill Huber of SI.com, it seems likely that Willis will start versus Indianapolis. Willis joined the Packers via trade from the Titans in the last week of August, so the 2022 third-round pick presumably isn't yet fully acclimated to his new offensive scheme. That could result in Green Bay deploying a run-heavy attack headlined by Josh Jacobs on Sunday.
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Packers' Malik Willis: Looks headed for Week 2 start
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Willis is expected to start at quarterback in the Packers' Week 2 home game against the Colts on Sept. 15, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has yet to comment on the team's plans at quarterback for Week 2 and likely won't until the team resumes practicing during the upcoming week, but Willis appears poised to take over for Jordan Love (knee), who suffered an MCL sprain in Friday's 34-29 loss to the Eagles in Brazil. As Glazer notes, the Packers received better news than anticipated regarding Love, who suffered a "Grade 1 or 2" sprain, which is considered a "2-to-4-week injury." With that in mind, Willis doesn't look as though he'll be in store for a long-term stint atop the depth chart if he does in fact take over as the team's new starter. The Packers acquired Willis from the Titans in the final week of August, so he didn't have a chance to play in any of Green Bay's preseason contests before he came on to replace Love for the final six seconds of Friday's loss. Willis has appeared in parts of 12 games (three starts) over his three-year NFL career, completing 35 of 67 pass attempts (52.2 percent) for 350 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions while taking 15 sacks and carrying 32 times for 144 yards and another score. The Packers would presumably lean on a run-heavy game plan while Willis fills in for Love.
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Packers' Malik Willis: Moving to Green Bay
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The Titans traded Willis to the Packers for a 2025 seventh-round pick Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
A third-round pick of the Titans in 2022, Willis has made 11 appearances (three starts) through two seasons, completing 35 of 66 passes for 350 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing 32 times for 144 yards and one TD. With the move to Green Bay, he seemingly will serve as the No. 2 QB behind Jordan Love, though the Packers still have two other young signal-callers on the roster in Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt ahead of cut-down day.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Tallies 116 yards through air
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Willis completed 12 of 16 passes for 116 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Saturday's 16-15 preseason win over the Seahawks. He added four rushes for 30 yards.
The Titans sat Will Levis for the game, leaving Willis in line for the start over Mason Rudolph. Willis had several strong throws, highlighted by gains of 24 and 14 yards. Unsurprisingly, he was able to supplement that with his work on the ground, also chipping in an 11-yard rush. Willis is competing with Rudolph for the backup job to begin the regular season, and the former's current standing with the team remains unclear.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Inactive in Week 11
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Willis (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
Willis has served as the backup to Will Levis with Ryan Tannehill (ankle) sidelined. However, with Tannehill active Sunday, Willis will serve only as the emergency third quarterback.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Likely part of QB timeshare
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Head coach Mike Vrabel said Friday that both Willis and Will Levis will take snaps at quarterback Sunday against the Falcons with Ryan Tannehill (ankle) ruled out for Week 8, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Vrabel made similar comments about the Titans' quarterback situation earlier in the week when Tannehill's status for Sunday's game looked to be in doubt, and the coach hasn't named a fill-in starter even with Tannehill having now been officially ruled out. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Wednesday that Levis is being prepped for the start and is expected to see the bulk of the playing time behind center, and even if that comes to pass, Willis is still expected to have a role in the game plan. If the two quarterbacks don't alternate series, the Titans could make use of the more mobile Willis by deploying him as a change-of-pace option behind Levis.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Will serve as No. 2 QB
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Willis is active and will serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind Ryan Tannehill on Sunday versus New Orleans, Joe Rexrode of The Athletic reports.
Willis and rookie second-round pick Will Levis were competing for the top backup spot during preseason action, and it appears the former has won the job for now, as the latter is a healthy scratch for Week 1. Willis struggled in limited action last year but will be the first man up if Tannehill is sidelined again in 2023.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Mixed bag in extensive action
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Willis completed 15 of 20 passes for 211 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions in Friday's 23-7 preseason win over New England.
Ryan Tannehill played three snaps without throwing a pass attempt, while Will Levis (thigh) was held out entirely despite saying Wednesday that he expected to be ready. Willis surprisingly ran for only 17 yards despite playing the entire night after the first drive, instead providing an entertaining mix of good and bad plays with his right arm. He and Levis have been competing for the No. 2 QB job this summer, and the winner heading into Week 1 won't necessarily retain the spot throughout the season.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Expects big workload Saturday
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Willis is expected to be under center for the Titans for the entirety of Saturday's exhibition game against the Vikings, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.
Willis' big workload comes at the expense of Will Levis, who is dealing with a lower body issue. As a result, the second-year signal caller will get an opportunity to showcase his talents for a full game. He completed 16 of 25 passes for 189 yards and one interception in Tennessee's opening preseason contest against the Bears, while adding 22 yards and one touchdown across three carries on the ground. Willis alternated possessions with Levis in that contest.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Rotates with Levis
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Willis completed 16 of 25 pass attempts for 189 yards and one interception in Tennessee's preseason game against Chicago on Saturday, adding 22 yards and one touchdown on three carries.
Willis started but then rotated series with second-round pick rookie Will Levis, who finished 9-of-14 for 85 yards and an interception. Both quarterbacks struggled to handle the pass rush, as each was sacked four times. It's not clear what this game means for the competition between Willis and Levis behind starter Ryan Tannehill, but it seems safe to say that Willis had the better production in this game. Levis had only a six-yard carry as a runner, and he incurred four sacks on just 14 attempts, which looks worse than Willis' four sacks versus 25 attempts. The competition figures to be ongoing.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Remains backup for now
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Willis remains the backup quarterback in the immediate aftermath of the draft, but he will have to earn the role moving forward, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The Titans selected Willis in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, so to call his future with the team into question appears drastic on the surface. However, after he struggled immensely in limited action as a rookie, Tennessee opted to spend an early second-round selection on Will Levis in this year's draft. Ryan Tannehill remains the clear starter for the time being, though coach Mike Vrabel said that he will let the player's performance dictate their spot on the depth chart as the season draws closer. As a result, Willis is heading into a pivotal time for his pro career, even though he's entering only his second season.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Will be backup QB on Saturday
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Willis will operate as the backup quarterback behind Joshua Dobbs for Saturday's regular-season finale against Jacksonville, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
With Ryan Tannehill (ankle) on injured reserve, Willis drew the start Week 16, but he threw two interceptions and was benched for Week 17. While the Titans lost to Dallas last Thursday, Vrabel said he was encouraged by the way Dobbs played and is confident in the veteran's ability. Willis is a rookie third-round pick and figures to have a future in Tennessee, but barring an injury, it appears like he'll be relegated to bench duties for the remainder of the 2022 campaign.
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Titans' Malik Willis: Candidate to start finale
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Coach Mike Vrabel is still deciding whether Willis or Joshua Dobbs will start the regular season finale against the Jaguars, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
The Titans went with Dobbs against Dallas on Thursday, and the 27-year-old quarterback threw for a respectable 232 yards with one touchdown and two turnovers in the 27-13 loss. Willis is more capable of making plays with his legs, but the rookie third-round pick out of Liberty failed to break triple digits in passing yards in any of his first three NFL starts. Needing a Week 18 win to make the postseason, the Titans will prioritize winning now over any future development, which could give Dobbs the inside track given Willis' struggles as a passer to date.
