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.
... See More... See Less
Packers' Malik Willis: Starting for Love in Week 2
Rotowire
Willis will start in place of QB Jordan Love (knee) with the latter inactive for Sunday's game versus the Colts, Mike Spofford of the Packers' official site reports.
At least for Week 2, this was the likeliest outcome for Green Bay's quarterback room after Love suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee in the season-opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil. Based on a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network earlier Sunday, Love is targeting a return to action Week 5 on the road against the Rams, which would give Willis two more starts in addition to Sunday's nod, while Sean Clifford backs him up. In 12 career appearances (three starts), Willis has completed 35 of 67 passes for 350 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions, rushed 32 times for 144 yards and one touchdown and fumbled four times (three lost).
... See More... See Less
Packers' Malik Willis: Week 2 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Packers' Malik Willis: Will start Week 2 if Love ruled out
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Packers' Malik Willis: Looks headed for Week 2 start
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Packers' Malik Willis: Pressed into early action
Rotowire
Willis did not complete the lone pass he attempted in Friday's 34-29 loss to the Eagles.
Willis has been a Packer for less than two weeks, but he took the field for the final two plays of Friday's contest after starting quarterback Jordan Love (lower leg) was forced from the game. Love's status remains up in the air, but if he is forced to miss any time, Green Bay will need to turn to either Willis, Sean Clifford -- who is on the practice squad but has been with the Packers since being drafted by the team in 2023 -- or a quarterback outside the organization.
... See More... See Less
Packers' Malik Willis: Moving to Green Bay
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Malik Willis: Tallies 116 yards through air
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Malik Willis: Inactive in Week 11
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Malik Willis: Likely part of QB timeshare
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Malik Willis: Will serve as No. 2 QB
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Malik Willis: Mixed bag in extensive action
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Malik Willis: Expects big workload Saturday
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Malik Willis: Rotates with Levis
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Malik Willis: Remains backup for now
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Malik Willis: Will be backup QB on Saturday
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Malik Willis: Candidate to start finale
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Malik Willis: Not expected to start Thursday
Rotowire
The Titans are expected to start Josh Dobbs rather than Willis in Thursday's game against the Cowboys, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
With Ryan Tannehill (ankle) already ruled out for the contest and likely done for the regular season, the Titans will get their first look at Dobbs, who was signed off the Lions' practice squad last week. Though the Titans are set to hold out a number of key players with an eye toward being as healthy as possible for a Week 18 matchup with the Jaguars that will decide the AFC South champion, Willis' expected absence may have more to do with his poor performance in place of Tannehill this season. Through the first eight appearances (three starts) of his rookie campaign, Willis has completed 31 of 61 attempts (50.8 percent) for 276 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions. He's also lost two fumbles, which has negated some of the value he's provided as a runner (123 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries). With that in mind, Dobbs could put himself in consideration to start the regular-season finale if he acquits himself well Thursday.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Malik Willis: Ugly effort in loss
Rotowire
Willis completed 14 of 23 passes for 99 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in Saturday's 19-14 loss to the Texans. He added seven rushes for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Willis drew his fourth start of the season with Ryan Tannehill (ankle) sidelined, but he struggled to get the Titans' offense moving. He averaged only 4.3 yards per attempt and his longest completion of the day went for just 14 yards. In addition, Willis threw a pair of interceptions, the first of which came on a potential game-winning drive inside Houston territory late in the fourth quarter. Positively, he did tally a 14-yard rushing score midway through the third quarter. While that hinted at his potential to excel, Willis' outlook for the final two games of the regular season is not positive.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Malik Willis: Stepping in for injured Tannehill
Rotowire
Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed Thursday that Willis will start Saturday's game against the Texans with Ryan Tannehill (ankle) ruled out for the contest, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
For the time being, Tennessee has ruled Tannehill out only for the Week 16 contest, but Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reported Wednesday that the Titans' top signal-caller is "very likely" done for the season due to a right ankle injury that is expected to require surgery. Tannehill's absence sets up Willis to make his third start of the season, including his second against the Texans, which came back in the two teams' previous matchup in Week 8. During Willis' prior two-game run as the starter, the Titans leaned heavily on running back Derrick Henry, with the rookie signal-caller attempting just 26 total passes and accounting for only 135 yards the air between a win over Houston and a Week 9 loss to Kansas City. The speedy Willis at least proved to be more of a threat on the ground, rushing 13 times for 52 yards in those games. While his rushing ability gives him some theoretical fantasy upside, Willis' lack of reliable passing volume makes it difficult to justify starting him in one-quarterback lineups.
