KC Chiefs uncertain if they’ll face Ryan Tannehill or Malik Willis

The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t exactly sure who will be starting at quarterback for the Tennessee Titans in Week 9: Malik Willis or Ryan Tannehill.

Typically when a team is preparing to face the Kansas City Chiefs, the buzz of the weekend is the upcoming matchup. Analysts are generally talking up Patrick Mahomes versus someone, but in the instance of the team’s Week 9 meeting against the visiting Tennessee Titans, no one is entirely sure who will be the quarterback on the other side: Malik Willis or Ryan Tannehill.

The Titans went with Willis, a first-year player the Titans selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, only due to Tannehill’s lack of availability this past weekend with both an illness and ankle injury. If Tannehill had been available, he would have played in the team’s recent win over the Houston Texans on Sunday in Week 8. That said, it’s hard to say whether or not Tannehill will be ready just yet with multiple ailments, and head coach Mike Vrabel admitted things were still uncertain following the game.

There might be a bit more of a quarterback controversy brewing if Willis didn’t look completely overwhelmed on Sunday. He had his moments, but he also finished 6 of 10 fro 55 yards and 1 interception. He was also sacked three times. Willis might have pried the door open a bit more to playing time earned in the wake of a mediocre year from Tannehill.

Neither quarterback has put up considerable production this year. In six starts this season, Tannehill has completed 65 percent of his passing attempts for 1,097 passing yards and 6 touchdowns to go with 3 interceptions. That said, the Titans’ identity is rooted in their ground game with Derrick Henry still in his prime and that won’t change until he hangs up his cleats.