According to a league source, Ryan Tannehill will not play in the regular season after having ankle surgery.
According to a source, it's unlikely that Tannehill would return if the team won the division and qualified for the playoffs.
Tannehill was trying to rehabilitate as much as he could in order to be able to return over the next few weeks.
As their division lead has dwindled to half a game over the surging Jacksonville Jags, the TennesseeTitans will now rely on a new quarterback in the form of a young man named Malik.
Tannehill was carted off with his ankle injury on Sunday after a Los Angeles Clippers player landed on his foot. After missing only one series, Tannehill returned to the game with an injured ankle and had to have surgery.
Tannehill's long-term outlook as well as his short-term future are being questioned. He will be entering the final season of his four-year, $118 million deal after this season, but after guaranteeing the first three years of his extension, theTitans have contractual flexibility in Year 4 of the deal
If theTitans decide to try to sign Tannehill to an extension that would create added salary-cap space, or if they decide to release him, it will affect the direction of the franchise.
Tennessee plays the Houston Texans on Saturday and the Dallas Cowboys on the 17th before ending the season at Jacksonville.
Tannehill has passed for 2,536 yards and 13 touchdown with six pick ups this year.
Turron Davenport was a contributor.