Malik Willis is set up for a return to Nashville, albeit in different colors.
Willis, who the Tennessee Titans traded to the Green Bay Packers the day before cut day in late August, made his first start for the Packers on Sunday and led them to a 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field.
Willis got the start after No. 1 quarterback Jordan Love suffered a knee injury in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Multiple reports indicated that Love's injury status was likely to be week to week, and he was listed as doubtful on the injury report going into the game against the Colts.
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Should Love not be available, Willis is in line to start against the Tennessee Titans (0-2) , the team that drafted him in 2022.
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Malik Willis had an efficient day for the Packers, going 12 of 14 for 122 yards and a touchdown and rushed six times for 41 yards. Green Bay led 10-0 in the first quarter and was able to control the ball on the ground throughout, and Willis wasn't forced into many must-pass situations.
Most importantly for Green Bay, Willis did not record a turnover and was not sacked.
Malik Willis was traded from the Titans to the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26 in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick.
The Titans opted to carry two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster — starter Will Levis and backup Mason Rudolph . The former Steelers quarterback beat out Willis in a preseason battle for the backup job.
"I think Malik earned the opportunity to have a chance to be the backup, whether it was here or somewhere else," Titans GM Ran Carthon said two days after the trade . "He fought his ass off while he was here and did everything we asked him to do."
In two seasons with the Titans, Willis struggled to find his footing. He started three games as a rookie in 2022 in relief of injured QB Ryan Tannehill. Willis went 1-2, though the Titans tailored a run-heavy game plan around him in each game. His play was poor enough that Tennessee brought in Joshua Dobbs to start the final two games of the season.
Willis did not make a start in 2023 as Levis, drafted in the second round in 2023, rose above him on the depth chart when Tannehill again was injured.
Malik Willis committed to Auburn out of high school and played two seasons in the SEC, mainly as a backup to Jarrett Stidham.
He transferred to Liberty in 2019 and sat out a year because of transfer rules, then played two seasons as a full-time starter under then-coach Hugh Freeze in 2020-21.
He was selected No. 86 overall in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Titans.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Malik Willis wins in first Packers start with faltering Will Levis, 0-2 Titans up next
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