Titans backup QB Ryan Tannehill addresses if he's asked for release

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill dismissed rumors claiming he asked for his release now that he's a backup behind rookie Will Levis.

"I was kind of caught off-guard by those reports as well," Tannehill said about the situation while speaking with reporters on Friday, per Nick Suss of the Nashville Tennessean. "Obviously I have a desire to play. I just don’t know what that looks like at this point. But no, there’s been no talks with [head coach Mike Vrabel] or anything like that." 

Even before Tannehill lost the starting job due to an ankle injury coupled with some solid performances from Levis, it was suggested the 35-year-old in the final months of his contract could ask for his release. It would make sense for Tannehill to join a contender in need of a starter, like the New York Jets. After it was learned Wednesday that Cleveland Browns QB1 Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last weekend, a false social media post said Tannehill wanted out of Tennessee sooner rather than later. 

On Friday afternoon, the Cincinnati Bengals confirmed that star signal-caller Joe Burrow will miss the remainder of the ongoing campaign with a wrist injury. 

Tannehill previously vowed he would "be here to answer any questions [Levis] might have and help him out along the way." That doesn't mean the veteran quarterback is loving life as a backup ahead of Thanksgiving Day. 

"You’ve got to swallow your pride a little bit every day when you walk in this building, which is not fun," Tannehill acknowledged. "Just trying to be the best teammate I can, help out where I can, whether it be with the quarterbacks or other position groups, just speaking up when I see anything and trying to find a way to win."

The Titans could fall to 3-7 when they play at the 6-3 Jacksonville Jaguars this coming Sunday. As Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk mentioned, Tannehill would have to clear waivers to choose his next employer if Tennessee releases him before Week 18.