Malik Willis

2022 - 12 - 29

Post cover — Image courtesy of "A to Z Sports"

What Josh Dobbs starting says about the Titans and Malik Willis (A to Z Sports)

What to make of the Tennessee Titans starting QB Josh Dobbs over rookie Malik Willis on Thursday Night Football against Dallas.

[AFC South title](https://www.espn.com/nfl/standings). He began the 2022 season with the Cleveland Browns, where he shined in his opportunities, but was waived upon [ Deshaun Watson](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3122840/deshaun-watson)‘s return. Everything they do is to better their chances of winning in Jacksonville and going to the [playoffs](http://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/machine). If Dobbs lights it up, then we’ll talk about who’s best for the team. This is a team taking out another health insurance policy and starting a free trial on a new subscription service. The Titans’ goal is clear. As for Dobbs, giving him an opportunity to show what he can do in game action couldn’t hurt. If anything, I’d say this is more Tennessee’s way of protecting Willis while also getting and feel of what Dobbs can bring to the table. They also may not believe that these are truly formative reps that will help his development given the circumstances. Taking snaps against this Cowboys pass rush with a banged up offensive line is a big risk. With a laundry list of players expected to miss tonight’s game to recover from injury, an already depleted Titans roster is going to be even uglier. [Buck Reising](https://twitter.com/BuckReising) of [AtoZ Sports](https://atozsports.com/) and first reported by [ Justin Melo](https://twitter.com/JustinM_NFL) of Broadway Sports Media, the [Tennessee Titans](https://atozsports.com/nashville/tennessee-titans/) are expected to start [Josh Dobbs](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3044720/joshua-dobbs) at quarterback tonight in place of rookie [Malik Willis](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4242512/malik-willis).

Titans rookie Malik Willis: 'We've just got to continue to grow' (al.com)

The outcome of Thursday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys won't affect Tennessee's chances of making the NFL playoffs. But while coach Mike Vrabel has ...

[Malik Willis](https://www.al.com/topic/Malik%20Willis/), the former [Auburn](https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/) quarterback won’t get more starting experience as the Titans prepare for the Jan. Prime Video will televise the game. 11, the middle game of Tennessee’s current five-game losing streak. If the teams finish tied because Jacksonville won the finale, the Jaguars will get the playoff spot because they swept the season series against Tennessee. We still got everything we could want, and we have the opportunity to learn from something. 8 game still will win the division. [NFL Network reported ](https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1608521110500564993)on Thursday that Tennessee will open with Joshua Dobbs at quarterback against Dallas. That’s when the Titans visit the Jacksonville Jaguars. Work on the progression and work on just speeding up things, good communication and all the things that go into playing quarterback.” The Titans took Willis with a third-round choice in the NFL Draft on April 29, and he got his first two starts with Ryan Tannehill sidelined by an ankle injury in a 17-10 victory over the Houston Texans on Oct. After transferring to Liberty, Willis completed 377-of-604 passes for 5,107 yards with 47 touchdowns and 18 interceptions and ran for 1,822 yards and 27 touchdowns on 338 carries in two seasons with the Flames. “And then some things we’re continuing to try to work on and correct.

Titans expected to start QB Josh Dobbs; Malik Willis to serve as ... (Fox News)

The Titans are making another change at quarterback ahead of their primetime matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, giving Joshua Dobbs starting quarterback ...

[CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP](https://foxnews.onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products) [an NFL](https://www.foxnews.com/category/sports/nfl) game. COWBOYS; TITANS REMAINING CAUTIOUS WITH MORE IMPORTANT WEEK 18 MATCHUP](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/derrick-henry-doubtful-cowboys-titans-remaining-cautious-important-week-18-matchup) Tennessee can afford to lose Thursday's game and still make the playoffs. Since then, he's mostly been a journeyman, primarily serving as a backup with the Jaguars, Browns and Lions. The former Liberty University standout has already stepped in to start a handful of games this season when Tannehill was injured.

Titans bench Malik Willis for Josh Dobbs on 'Thursday Night Football' (New York Post)

Joshua Dobbs is expected to make his first career start for the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Titans are 1-2 in his three starts. Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing is working as hard as he can to get Dobbs ready. He has rushed for 123 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown last week against the Houston Texans.

Titans expected to start Josh Dobbs over Malik Willis at quarterback ... (CBSSports.com)

Dobbs is set to make his first career NFL start, and it'll be against one of the NFC's top teams.

[Steelers](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/PIT/pittsburgh-steelers/) out of the University of Tennessee. [Jeffery Simmons](/nfl/players/2248637/jeffery-simmons/) and other key contributions. [Tennessee Titans](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/TEN/tennessee-titans/) will have a lot of familiar faces on the shelf as they take on the [Dallas Cowboys](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/DAL/dallas-cowboys/) to open up Week 17 of the [NFL](/nfl/) season. The club is now expected to start [Joshua Dobbs](/nfl/players/2071844/joshua-dobbs/) at quarterback against Dallas, CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones confirms. Second, this would ideally have been a good time to continue giving Willis some in-game reps as the franchise sees what it has in the 2022 third-round pick. With [Ryan Tannehill](/nfl/players/1273654/ryan-tannehill/) sidelined, the prevailing assumption was that rookie quarterback [Malik Willis](/nfl/players/2804167/malik-willis/) would get the starting nod under center as he's done throughout the season when Tannehill has been out.

Titans to start Josh Dobbs over Malik Willis vs. Cowboys (ClutchPoints)

The Tennessee Titans will have a shot to win the AFC South in Week 18 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, regardless of what happens in Week 17.

Chances are Dobbs won’t make the Titans offense any better, but it’s clear that he will go out with a goal of just getting Tennessee through this game. [aren’t too concerned](https://clutchpoints.com/titans-news-derrick-henrys-status-vs-cowboys-will-have-fantasy-football-managers-in-shambles) with what happens in Week 17. The Titans coaching staff doesn’t agree, and will be [turning the ball over](https://twitter.com/JustinM_NFL/status/1608515107339763717) to their third-stringer in Dobbs rather than Willis against the Cowboys.

Titans to start Josh Dobbs What does that say Malik Willis's future (Music City Miracles)

It is not fair for us to make a definitive judgment on Malik Willis based on what we have seen from him in his three starts. He certainly hasn't been good, but ...

It’s going to be the same line next week and the reps Willis would get tonight would be really valuable. To me, the decision to start Dobbs is a pretty big indictment on where Willis is at this point, The decision to start Dobbs is surprising.