MINNEAPOLIS — The Tennessee Titans’ second-string backfield put up a first-rate performance Saturday night.
Malik Willis rushed for 91 yards and threw a touchdown pass while playing the entire game at quarterback for the Titans, who dominated at the line of scrimmage in a 24-16 preseason victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
Rookie running back Tyjae Spears added a 33-yard touchdown, Julius Chestnut rushed for 98 yards and a score, and the Titans (1-1) racked up 281 yards on the ground to give resting star Derrick Henry a good show.
“Shoutout to the O-line,” Spears said. “They opened it up.”
Willis, a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, has been competing with rookie Will Levis, a second-round pick in April, for the No. 2 spot behind veteran starter Ryan Tannehill. Levis was injured Thursday in a joint practice with the Vikings, giving Willis an extended look.
“He did some good things,” Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel said. “Obviously, he put the ball in harm’s way, but I saw him progress through. I saw him make some plays when there was time. I liked his decisiveness and using his athletic ability and committing when he did decide to scramble.”
Playing behind the starting offensive line in the first quarter, Willis was out of sync with his receivers on several throws — tight end Chig Okonkwo had two drops — and finished 10-of-17 for 85 yards. He had a pass intercepted by Troy Dye and fumbled during a sack, with the Titans recovering.
“We just keep staying in front of the sticks,” Willis said. “That’s what we didn’t do in the first half.”
The Vikings (0-2) didn’t play a single starter. Rookie running back DeWayne McBride scored a touchdown for Minnesota, and Greg Joseph made all three of his field-goal attempts.
With Hassan Haskins out, Spears was the next ball carrier up for the Titans, and the third-round pick out of Tulane took advantage of his time. He hurdled Lewis Cine and made the second-year safety whiff on his arm tackle attempt on the way to the end zone in the first quarter.
“That was obviously a beautiful sight to see from him,” Chestnut said. “We kept rolling from that.”
Cine, a first-round draft pick in 2022 who’s coming back from a badly broken leg that cut short his rookie season, contributed a sack later in the game.
“It felt good, but I felt like I’ve got to be more consistent,” Cine said.
Vikings safety Theo Jackson hurt his shoulder on the tackle that saved a touchdown on a 55-yard run by Chestnut, but he was cleared to return.
Titans nose tackle Teair Tart, who was kicked out of practice Thursday for throwing a punch at Vikings center Garrett Bradbury, was the only starter who played on defense. Undrafted rookie Caleb Murphy, an outside linebacker from Division II program Ferris State, had two sacks for Tennessee.
Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins, who turned 35 on Saturday, flashed a wide smile as he waved to the crowd after a happy birthday message flashed on the videoboard, and star wide receiver Justin Jefferson practiced his touchdown dance, the Griddy. Otherwise, this was simply an audition for depth guys and roster hopefuls.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell again took the cautious approach in the team’s second exhibition, satisfied with two days of intense drills and simulated game situations. He handed the play calling for the second half to offensive coordinator Wes Phillips. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores took some different turns with the strategy, too.
“Listen, if we were playing our normal calls, then some of these runs aren’t getting off,” O’Connell said. “Our mindset is on September 10th and beyond.”
The Vikings host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 10 to open the regular season. Minnesota’s preseason finale is also at home, next Saturday night against the Arizona Cardinals after joint practices for the teams on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Titans host the New England Patriots next Friday night after joint practices on Tuesday and Wednesday in Nashville.
The Titans’ Treylon Burks was sidelined after getting injured during the first day of practice with the Vikings, and two more Tennessee receivers, Kearis Jackson and Kyle Phillips, injured their knees in Saturday’s game. Philips, a fifth-round draft pick in 2022, is first in line as the punt returner. Jackson, an undrafted rookie from Georgia, returned one punt and two kickoffs in the game.
Tennessee is working toward its Sept. 10 opener against the host New Orleans Saints.