Malik Willis’ practice progress didn’t translate into a smooth outing at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, though he did help led the Titans to a 24-16 win over the Vikings, running very well along the way.

Willis had two concerning plays in the first half that illustrate that, while he’s improved a great deal, his game still has a lot of uncertainty to it.

On a third-possession play-action on first-and-10, he followed his fake handoff to Julius Chestnut with a drop back into a comfortable pocket. With time to step into a throw for an easy 26-yard gain to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, he bounced the ball to the receiver’s feet. It’s a play that felt like it came out of nowhere, and qualified as a complete miss. [Unlocked]

Will Levis will not suit up for the Titans Saturday night at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, which means Malik Willis is slated to play all of the second preseason game for the Titans.

Caroline Fenton first reported Levis is out and I've confirmed it. I've also learned the Titans don't plan to play Ryan Tannehill at all.

With no other QB available, Tannehill will be dressed and available if Willis is forced out of the game.

Levis left the Titans' second practice against the Vikings in Eagan, Minn. late with a lower-body injury on Thursday

Mike Vrabel said Will Levis went in with trainers, missed chance at late reps. Status for game TBD. #Titans

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 17, 2023

Only managed hockey report on Will Levis so far:

Injury is lower body. #Titans.

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 17, 2023

The Titans have decided not to put that injury – the specifics of which are unknown -- at any further risk.

Ryan Tannehill has played in only one preseason for the Titans since he joined the team via trade in 2019, and that was in 2019 when he was Marcus Mariota’s backup at the start of the season. There was no preseason in 2020, but Tannehill did not suit up in 2021 or 2022.

[Unlocked]

EAGAN, Minn. -- The Titans mixed it up for two days with the Vikings in interesting and entertaining joint practices, and I sort through what I ascertained in this week's podcast.

Tune in for a word picture of Denico Autry great snap against Christian Darrisaw and more like that.

The new episode awaits you on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeart and YouTube, which is also embedded below.

Other subjects I dive into:

💥 Injuries to Treylon Burks, Will Levis and Elijah Molden.
💥 The secrecy of officiating at practices like these.
💥 Areas of progress for Will Levis and Levis.

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EAGAN, Minn. – Arden Key is the right guy to summarize the Titans’ defensive work against the Vikings in two days of joint practices.

“We had a good day (Wednesday) but it wasn’t up to our standards,” he said. “The coaches got on our ass a little bit, some of the players got on our ass a little bit. Today, we whooped their ass.”

High-intensity Tennessee had an excellent defensive showing at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Complex, with some pretty pass defense, a consistently disruptive pass rush and a stout and stingy run defense. [Unlocked]

EAGAN, Minn. – Ryan Tannehill called it a three-club wind. Will Levis told me it was two clubs.

Either way, there was no disputing the moving air that had the cords on flag poles dinging against them had a bearing on passing during Thursday’s joint practice between the Titans and Vikings.

I watched Tannehill and Will Levis throw one-on-one passes against Minnesota defensive backs, and the success rate was low. There is no rush, obviously, and the offense should have an advantage – they know where they are going and the defender is purely reactive with no help.

Update, 5:39 pm CT: Ian Rapoport reports an MRI revealed Trelon Burks suffered an LCL sprain and should only miss a few weeks. 

EAGAN, Minn. – All the hope and good feelings surrounding the Titans took a major dent here Wednesday afternoon when Treylon Burks stretched to pull in a deep pass down the middle from Ryan Tannehill down the middle of a Vikings’ practice field. 

He stumbled after he collected the pass over Akayleb Evans, staggered for four or five strides, went to the ground, rolled over sideways, bounced up, took a step and started limping.

Then: two steps, a stop, a hop, a lean on the nearest teammate, a pause, another step and a bend to put the ball down, bending at his waist again.

Trainers collected him beside a tent that covers a video station and looked hard at his left knee/calf with him on the ground on his back. Initially, they waved off a cart, but only minutes later one came to him and he got up with help.

Ryan Tannehill was one of the people who assisted the receiver's short walk to the cart when he put no weight on the leg. DeAndre Hopkins and Derrick Henry both offered words of encouragement. [Unlocked]

By MIKE HERNDON, columnist

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Preseason football is here and that means fans and analysts everywhere are rushing to find video evidence to confirm their prior opinions and take premature victory laps on the internet. So we’ll start this column with a reminder that this is just one very small snapshot of a much larger body of work that these players are putting together over the course of training camp.

Allowing 12 snaps from the Titans' starting offensive line to convince you that there won’t be any blocking issues in Tennessee this year is a mistake. I could go back and find 12 snap stretches where the 2022 Titans offensive line looked good as well (and against better competition than a toothless Bears front). Similarly, you shouldn’t be letting Josh Whyle’s two poor moments lead you to believe that he should be cut today.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – We all know he’s the starter. 

Still, Ryan Tannehill’s been largely set aside as a Titans’ conversation topic.

They’ve got a 2022 third-rounder they traded up for (Malik Willis) competing with a 2023 second-rounder they traded up for (Will Levis) and a quarterback competition – even for the No. 2 job – provides camp intrigue.

A story about the starter having a handle on it isn’t so intriguing, but it should be, and here’s why…