The Tennessee Titans have placed quarterback Ryan Tannehill on injured reserve, effectively ending his season.

Tannehill will miss his fourth game of the season Thursday when the Titans (7-8) host the Dallas Cowboys (11-4). He's been dealing with a recurring ankle injury that he re-aggravated on Dec. 18 against the Los Angeles Chargers. By landing on injured reserve, Tannehill is required to miss four weeks, meaning he will not be eligible to return this season unless the Titans make it to the AFC Championship game.

Journeyman quarterback and former Tennessee Vols standout Joshua Dobbs will reportedly start for the Titans vs. the Cowboys, replacing rookie Malik Willis who had started the three games Tannehill missed earlier in the season. The Titans play the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 18 in a game where the winner will win the AFC South and make the postseason. Tannehill will not be eligible to play in that game.

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In addition to Tannehill, the Titans also placed linebackers Zach Cunningham and Bud Dupree on injured reserve Thursday and elevated linebackers Sam Okuayinonu and Andre Smith and running back Jonathan Ward from the practice squad.

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans put QB Ryan Tannehill on injured reserve