Titans rule Ryan Tannehill out as Will Levis to start at QB

The Tennessee Titans will be without starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill for their upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This absence means that rookie quarterback Will Levis will be starting his second game, going head-to-head against Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett, who sustained rib injuries in his last game but has no current injury concerns.

Titans coach Mike Vrabel intended to gauge Tannehill’s progress throughout the week leading up to the game, but unfortunately, Tannehill was unable to participate in practice. Tannehill initially suffered a high ankle sprain in the team’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6, which required him to wear a cast on his foot before transitioning to a walking boot.

Despite his injury, Tannehill has been able to move around the team’s facilities independently and has been focused on rehabilitating his ankle over the past few weeks. This ankle injury resembles a previous high ankle sprain that Tannehill experienced last season, causing him to miss two games.

Last week, in Levis’ NFL debut, he showcased his skills by completing 19 of 29 pass attempts for 238 yards and four touchdowns in a 28-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Notably, three of Levis’ touchdown passes were caught by wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who is currently listed as questionable for the game due to a toe injury and did not practice on Wednesday.

Speaking about the upcoming matchup against the Steelers at the rowdy Acrisure Stadium, Levis expressed his excitement, stating, “Going into that loud stadium, it’s a big-time environment. We’re ready to handle it, and I’m just looking forward to going and taking it all in and then just doing my thing.”

Pickett, on the other hand, announced on Tuesday that he will definitely be playing against the Titans, despite the previous uncertainty surrounding his status, as indicated by Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin. Pickett mentioned that the ribs injury may impact his throwing ability, emphasizing the importance of being cautious during the lead-up to the game in order to be ready for Thursday night.

ESPN’s Brooke Pryor contributed to this report.