Tennessee Titans

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks is set to miss "some time" after reportedly being diagnosed with turf toe, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Burks won't require surgery on the injury, just time to rehabilitate. He was carted off the field during the Titans' Week 4 win over the Indianapolis Colts and was seen wearing a boot on crutches after the game.

With the likelihood of missing multiple weeks, Treylon Burks could land on Injured Reserve to allow him to fully heal. But no surgery means he should be back this season. https://t.co/riE7hutmGr

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 3, 2022

It was a concerning setback for the Titans considering they appeared to make the 22-year-old one of the franchise cornerstones for the future when they selected him with the No. 18 overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft.

Burks was part of a wide receiver overhaul in Tennessee this past offseason, as it traded A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles, traded for Robert Woods and didn't re-sign Julio Jones. The rookie has responded to his role with 10 catches for 129 yards in four games.

While the Titans will miss the Arkansas product's presence on the field if he is sidelined following this setback, they will likely rely even more on Woods and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in the aerial attack for the time being.

Even after an 0-2 start to the season, the Tennessee Titans aren't looking to bench Ryan Tannehill in favor of Malik Willis.

Peter Schrager provided the latest on NFL on Fox pregame:

Outside that building, there's a lot of whispers, and maybe louder than whispers, about seeing the third-round pick Malik Willis out of Liberty. Maybe it's time to go to him, I can tell you, speaking to Titans sources, that is not the conversion internally. They are all-in on Tannehill and they still believe they're contenders this season.

Willis saw his first NFL action in a Week 2 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills, finishing 1-of-4 passing for six yards, plus four carries for 16 yards.

There are high expectations for the former Liberty star, who showcased his dual-threat ability during the preseason. Willis was the third quarterback taken in the draft behind Kenny Pickett and Desmond Ridder.

It's enough for plenty of fans to call for the rookie to take over and prove himself as the quarterback of the future.

On the other hand, Tannehill is just one year removed from leading the Titans to the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a 12-5 record. In 47 appearances with Tennessee, the quarterback has a 101.1 passer rating with 78 touchdowns and a 2.1 percent interception rating.

The team is standing by Tannehill despite the early season struggles, hoping it's enough to remain in playoff contention.

If things don't turn around, however, Tennessee would be smart to see what it has in Willis before the year is over. Tannehill has a $36.6 million cap hit in 2023, but the Titans can save up to $27 million by trading or releasing the quarterback in the offseason, per Spotrac.

Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury suffered Monday during his team's road matchup with the Buffalo Bills.

The news was announced on the Twitter account for Bussin' With the Boys, a Barstool Sports podcast featuring Lewan and his ex-teammate, free-agent linebacker Will Compton.

We come to you with sad news

The boy, Taylor Lewan, is out for the season after his knee injury in the Buffalo game last week

— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) September 24, 2022

Lewan, 31, is a three-time Pro Bowler who has been with the Titans for his entire nine-year NFL career.

Lewan's great career with the Titans could very well be over now. He signed a five-year, $80 million extension ($50 million guaranteed) that began in 2019 and runs through 2023, but the Titans can release Lewan without any cap penalty next offseason and save nearly $15 million on the cap as well.

The former Michigan star's time in Tennessee was ultimately a great success. He notably served as an instrumental part of the team's turnaround after the Titans went 5-27 in 2014 and 2015.

The Titans have sported winning records ever since 2016, and their six-year span from 2016-2021 includes a 2019 AFC Championship Game appearances and a pair of AFC South titles.

Lewan also helped pave running paths for star running back Derrick Henry, who led the league in rushing in 2019 and 2020 and finished with 2,027 rushing yards in the latter year.

As far as this season goes, the onus is now on Dennis Daley to step in at left tackle. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel already told reporters Friday that Daley will replace Lewan when Tennessee hosts the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

As the Tennessee Titans were getting blown out by the Buffalo Bills on their way to a 41-7 loss on Monday Night Football, it became apparent that starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill was overmatched.

The 34-year-old completed 11 of 20 passes for 117 yards and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. The lackluster performance had many fans online clamoring for Tannehill to be replaced by rookie quarterback Malik Willis, and they got their wish.

Tannehill was benched after throwing the pick-six, and Willis made his NFL debut in the third quarter of Monday's game. However, things didn't go much better for the 23-year-old, as he went 1-of-4 for six yards and ran the ball four times for 16 yards and a lost fumble.

With the Titans falling to 0-2, much of the chatter on social media centered around the team's quarterback position, with Willis getting most of the attention:

It's Malik Willis time.

— Kyle, a Madson (@KyleAMadson) September 20, 2022

"sorry Ryan, it's Malik Willis time." pic.twitter.com/AgfdAjKPh5

— FanDuel (@FanDuel) September 20, 2022

Malik Willis time. Electric athlete.

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 20, 2022

It’s Malik Willis time.

3:49 left in the 3rd.

The Bills steal your souls, mess with your heads and then your roster.

— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) September 20, 2022

https://twitter.com/thorku/status/1572008783878180865

We, the people, DEMAND Malik Willis

— Davis Mattek (@DavisMattek) September 20, 2022

put malik willis in the game now @Titans

— gabb (@gabbgoudy) September 20, 2022

Y’all asked for Malik Willis and he immediately came in looking like a rookie QB….this game of NFL Football ain’t easy

— Carp (@robcarpenter81) September 20, 2022

https://twitter.com/MaggieGray/status/1572045215283945474

Titans going with Malik Willis is only thing keeping me tuned into this Titans/Bills mess.

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_Sooners) September 20, 2022

And there’s Malik Willis’ welcome to the NFL moment. Matt Milano on one tonight.

— Christopher Carter (@CarterCritiques) September 20, 2022

Matt Milano just knocked Malik Willis back into the 2022 NFL Draft.

— Ryan Talbot (@RyanTalbotBills) September 20, 2022

Hand up...I did not have "Malik Willis in at QB by Week 2" on my 2022 #Titans Bingo card.

— Sam Phalen (@Sam_Phalen) September 20, 2022

Malik Willis good luck bro damn

— Keith McPherson (@Keith_McPherson) September 20, 2022

Tennessee has a lot of questions to answer. Tannehill is likely to remain the team's starter, but for how long? The Titans can't afford to fall into a deeper hole this season after finishing as the No. 1 seed in the AFC last year.

If Tannehill puts forth another performance like he had Monday, there will be no shortage of fans calling for Willis to be the team's starter for the rest of the season.

Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Malik Willis made his NFL debut, replacing starter Ryan Tannehill in the third quarter of Monday night's game against the Buffalo Bills.

Tannehill was benched after throwing for 117 yards and two interceptions on 11-of-20 passing. Willis is now the first rookie quarterback to see game action this season.

It’s Malik Willis time.

3:49 left in the 3rd.

The Bills steal your souls, mess with your heads and then your roster.

— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) September 20, 2022

The Bills had taken a 41-7 lead on a pick-six by Matt Milano, which sent Tannehill to the bench. The veteran was more effective in the season opener against the New York Giants, throwing for 266 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers, though the Titans lost on a late field goal.

Willis was the third quarterback taken in the 2022 draft when Tennessee selected him with a third-round pick. He had initially been projected to be a possible first-round pick, but there weren't many quarterback-needy teams. The Titans took the chance to secure their signal-caller of the future when he fell down the draft board.

The 23-year-old is known for his dual-threat ability, as he rushed for 1,822 yards and 27 touchdowns in his two seasons at Liberty while also throwing for 5,107 yards and 47 scores. He adds a different dimension to the Tennessee offense because of his willingness to utilize his athleticism.

Prior to the start of the season, the Titans were hoping to bring Willis along slowly in his development.

"Naturally there's going to be a learning curve," offensive coordinator Todd Downing said in August. "He is a very gifted thrower that has great ball speed and has an accurate ball. There are probably times when he got away with things collegiately that he's not going to be able to get away with in the pros. Tying his feet to his progressions and helping the timing, there will be a major step in the process. He's made strides and realizing that he can trust that process."

After Monday, the process is now accelerated, and there's a chance this won't be the last time we see Willis this season.

The Tennessee Titans faced a daunting challenge going on the road to face the Buffalo Bills in Monday's game even at full strength, and things became even more difficult in the first quarter when offensive tackle Taylor Lewan was carted off the field with a knee injury.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported he was ruled questionable to return.

Dennis Daley entered the game in Lewan's place, and the Titans responded by marching down the field for a touchdown on their first drive. Derrick Henry punched it in with a touchdown run on fourth down from the 2-yard line even without one of their offensive leaders up front.

Lewan has been with the Titans his entire career since they selected him with a first-round pick in the 2014 draft.

The Michigan product has dealt with durability issues of late, missing four games last year and four games in 2019. Injuries also limited him to five games during the 2020 season.

When healthy, he is a cornerstone of Tennessee's offense as a three-time Pro Bowler who has helped set the tone up front throughout his career. He earned a solid Pro Football Focus player grade of 70.9 last season.

While the Titans were able to move the ball without him in the immediate aftermath of his injury Monday, a long-term setback would limit their ceiling as they look to compete in the AFC again after finishing with the conference's No. 1 seed last season.

The Tennessee Titans have elevated veteran receiver Josh Gordon to the active roster ahead of Monday night's matchup with the Buffalo Bills, according to the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

"Josh just needs opportunities to prove that he's still the incredible player and talent he's always been," Gordon's agent, Zac Hiller, told Pelissero.

Gordon, 31, has had an up-and-down NFL career.

He appeared to be on the cusp of superstardom in 2013 after he caught 87 passes for 1,646 yards and nine scores for the Cleveland Browns, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors in the process.

But off-field struggles hampered him from there.

He was suspended separately by both the Browns and the NFL for a total of 11 games in the 2014 season and was promptly out of the league in both the 2015 and 2016 seasons for violations of the NFL's substance abuse policies.

The NFL reinstated him in 2017 and he appeared in five games for the Browns, catching 18 passes for 335 yards and a score. He split time between the Browns and Patriots in 2018 and had stints with the Pats and Seattle Seahawks in 2019, appearing in a total of 23 games across those two seasons.

But the NFL suspended him again in the 2019 season for a sixth violation of the substance abuse policy, and he wasn't in the league in 2020 after failing to meet the requirements of his reinstatement process.

He was reinstated by the NFL in Sept. 2021 and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, appearing in 12 games and catching five passes for 32 yards and a score. The Chiefs re-signed him in March, though he was released in late August as the team trimmed its roster to the 53-person limit.

Appreciate all the @Chiefs kingdom has done for me and my family this past year. Thanks for the opportunity and the many memories. 🙏🏾

— Flash (@JOSH_GORDONXII) August 30, 2022

He was quickly signed to Tennessee's practice squad.

Excited to kickoff this chapter of my career w/ the @Titans ❤️‍🔥🤝 #TitanUp lessgooooo 🫡

— Flash (@JOSH_GORDONXII) September 1, 2022

It remains to be seen if Gordon will see much of the field Monday night, as he'll likely be buried behind players like Robert Woods, Treylon Burks, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Kyle Phillips (if he plays after coming into Monday with a "questionable" designation).

But it's a new chapter for Gordon's career, nonetheless.

Fantasy managers looking to add some depth at running back following Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season should consider taking a look into Tennessee Titans veteran Dontrell Hilliard.

With four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game, the 27-year-old had already posted two carries for eight yards and caught three passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns against the New York Giants.

Despite a lack of yardage on the ground, it was a solid outing for Hilliard.

Derrick Henry serves as Tennessee's top running back, but Hilliard figures to continue playing a larger pass-catching role out of the backfield for the Titans moving forward.

Hilliard is rostered in just six percent of Yahoo Sports' fantasy leagues, so he should be available.

However, Hilliard shouldn't necessarily be used in either of the two starting running back spots unless it's absolutely necessary given injuries to other players. He would be a solid pickup for the bench, especially as the season continues.

Furthermore, Henry suffered a foot injury last season and only appeared in eight games. If he goes down again, Hilliard will prove to be a valuable pickup moving forward.

Hilliard went undrafted out of Tulane and spent the first two-and-a-half seasons of his career with the Cleveland Browns before joining the Houston Texans in 2020.

The 27-year-old appeared in eight games for the Titans during the 2021 campaign and rushed for 350 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to catching 19 passes for 87 yards.

Two days before the start of their NFL season, the Tennessee Titans have given safety Amani Hooker a new contract.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Hooker has agreed to a three-year extension worth more than $33 million.

Hooker has been a development success story during his first three seasons with the Titans. He was a fourth-round draft pick out of Iowa in 2019 and appeared in all 16 games as a rookie, but he played in a rotation behind starters Kevin Byard and Kenny Vaccaro.

The 2022 season was Hooker's final year under his rookie deal. His new contract ties him to the Titans through 2025.

After playing primarily as a backup in the rotation again in 2020, Hooker moved into the starting lineup last season. The 24-year-old started all 12 games he played and fared well in Pro Football Focus' wins-above-replacement metric:

https://twitter.com/PFF_Eric/status/1568241639495434242

Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus named Hooker as the sixth-best all-around safety in the NFL coming into this season.

Hooker finished 2021 with 62 combined tackles, four pass breakups and one interception. He was instrumental in the Titans' defense, ranking sixth in the NFL in points allowed (20.8 per game) and earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a 12-5 record.

Things are going to look different for the Titans on offense in 2022. They traded A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles during the offseason. Derrick Henry will be looking to rebound after an injury-plagued 2021.

If the Titans are going to get back to the playoffs this season, Hooker and the defense are going to have to play at a high level. Hooker's extension suggests the organization strongly believes in his ability to be an anchor in the secondary for several years.

Former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Josh Gordon is visiting the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Taylor Bisciotti.

The Chiefs released Gordon on Tuesday as they made cuts to their 53-man roster.

Gordon thanked the Chiefs in a Twitter post on Tuesday and added that he was "excited" to see what the future has in store.

However, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters "there's a chance" Gordon returns to Kansas City "if it doesn't work out for him somewhere else.''

The 31-year-old was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2012 supplemental draft out of Baylor. He went on to lead the NFL in receiving yards (1,646) in 2013, but his career has since been derailed.

Gordon has been suspended by the NFL six times since 2013. Five of those suspensions were for violations of the league's substance abuse policy. He was also suspended for one game in December 2014 for a violation of Cleveland's team rules.

The Texas native missed all of the 2015, 2016 and 2020 seasons due to suspensions. He was reinstated in September 2021 and signed a deal with the Chiefs as a free agent.

In 12 games for the Chiefs last season, Gordon caught five passes for 32 yards and one touchdown. In addition to the Chiefs and Browns, he has also played for the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

The Titans are in need of some depth at wide receiver after trading A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles. They have rookie Treylon Burks, Robert Woods, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kyle Philips and Racey McMath on the roster.

However, McMath is expected to be placed on injured reserve with a hip injury, according to Terry McCormick of Titansinsider.com, which only furthers the team's need for a wideout.