The Tennessee Titans won’t have quarterback Ryan Tannehill in the lineup tonight when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Amazon Prime’s “Thursday Night Football.”
Instead, it’ll be rookie Will Levis getting the start (Titans rookie QB Will Levis brings big arm, expectations to Pittsburgh to face uneven Steelers).
Here’s the deal: Can Levis “Drew Bledsoe” Tannehill? Meaning, if Levis has another four-touchdown game, like he did in his first start, a win over Atlanta, will the Titans go back to Tannehill as their starter, or will they embrace the seeming inevitable, and go ahead and go with the rookie now?
It’s only one game, but Levis went 19-of-29 for 238 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and was sacked twice against the Falcons. He became the third quarterback in the history of the league to throw four touchdowns in his first game (Fran Tarkenton and Marcus Mariota were the other two).
Tennessee is 3-4 prior to tonight’s game. A win would leave them just two games behind AFC South Division-leading Jacksonville, on an open date this week.
As this Associated Press preview included in this story points out, Levis won’t have to face Pittsburgh safety Minkah Fitzpatrick tonight. Fitzpatrick is out with a hamstring injury.
The Titans’ defense will have to face Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett, who says he will play following a hit he took last week against the Jaguars.
So far this season, Pickett is 122-of-200 for 1,330 yards, five touchdowns, four interceptions and has been sacked 17 times in seven games. The Steelers’ offense has been much-maligned, with fans at Penguins games even chanting “Fire Canada” – not talking about the country, but about Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
