24 May 2023 , 21:56
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Malik Willis has issued a defiant message ahead of the 2023/24 season with the quarterback set to fight for his spot alongside second-round 2023 NFL draftee Will Levis.
The Tennessee Titans drafted Willis, 23, in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft and despite his Tennessee career being in its infancy, it's very much in question. The Georgia-born thrower played just three times for Tennesee last term but he was deemed too raw still, and so Joshua Dobbs was brought in to play in place of the injured Ryan Tannehill.
Dobbs, 28, has since moved on to the Cleveland Browns, Tannehill has stayed put and Levis joined last month after missing out on a first-round selection. And Willis will have to fight Tannehill, as well as Levis, for game time.
Nonetheless, Willis remains determined to impress and make a success of his Titans career. Levis' arrival doesn't change his goal for the 2023 season. "Go to work the same way. It don’t matter,” Willis said, according to FoxSports.com. “It’s the same amount of competition.
"You’re competing against yourself every day. You don’t go competing against guys. You don’t go looking over your shoulder. Just try to get better.”
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In limited appearances, Willis completed 51 per cent of his passes for 276 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Willis also rushed 123 yards for one touchdown for the Titans. He had three fumbles and was sacked ten times.
Will Levis was a second round NFL Draft pickDue to the NFL 's emergency quarterback rule, the Titans are allowed to select three QBs in their 53-man roster. But the Titans also have a new GM, who may want to see what Willis can provide before giving the go-ahead for a 2023/24 squad selection.
Levis has vowed to work hard like Willis and has already declared that his first-round snub last month will not dictate his work ethic while he's at the Titans. "It's not going to change my work ethic, regardless if I went first overall or 33rd," Levis said. "I can't let the circumstances dictate my work ethic. I ended up where I was meant to be, and I'm just looking forward to competing and getting started."
The Titans will be hoping that their throwers are able to fire them to a postseason appearance next term. They finished second in the AFC South last season behind the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tennessee finished with a respectable record of 7-10, finishing above the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans.