Malik Willis addresses becoming forgotten Titans quarterback

Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis can't help and can't focus on the fact he's likely already been replaced on the depth chart by rookie Will Levis.  

"It's a results-based business," Willis said about life in the NFL, per Jim Wyatt of the Titans' website. "It doesn't matter what I think, it doesn't matter what you think, it just is. I am just focusing on what I can control."

Even before the Titans moved up in the draft order to select Levis with the No. 33 overall pick this past April, NBC Sports' Peter King wrote for his "Football Morning in America" column published on April 24 that he had heard the Titans "lost faith in" Willis. Last month, AFC South reporter Ben Arthur of Fox Sports forecasted that Willis will become "the odd man out" among Tennessee quarterbacks.

A third-round pick from the 2022 draft, Willis went 1-2 as a starter and appeared in eight total games last season. He completed 31-of-61 pass attempts (50.8%) for 276 yards with zero touchdowns and three interceptions, and he also rushed for 123 yards and a score on 27 carries. 

"I have just been trying to take it one play at a time, and one day at a time," Willis said about working to improve coming off a lackluster debut pro campaign. "And that's just my main focus, understanding each play is not going to be great, but make the best of it what you can, and learn from it what you can."

It remains unclear if Willis will be with the Titans when they open the upcoming regular season at the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 10. Tennessee theoretically could part ways with veteran Ryan Tannehill at any point to stash Willis on the depth chart, but there's no sign the team is heading in that direction before the summer break. 

Willis acknowledged he's more "comfortable" now than he was during springtime workouts as a rookie. 

"We're still learning," Willis continued. "There's still mistakes that are made, and we're just trying to learn from them each day. This whole process of spring, it was really cool, getting in and learning the offense, learning our new players and understanding how everybody learns and improves. It's been great."

Willis needs to master the system installed by new offensive coordinator Tim Kelly as quickly as possible, because the 24-year-old may spend the preseason auditioning for other teams as Tennessee prepares for Levis to succeed Tannehill.