Titans QB Will Levis remains confident even as NFL defenders advise to take the sack

Published Sep. 11, 2024 6:04 p.m. ET

Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A couple of NFL defenders have advice for Will Levis if the Tennessee Titans quarterback will listen.

Taking the sack can be the best play.

That's what Chicago defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker said after Levis threw a pick-6 even with the defender's arms wrapped around the quarterback's legs. That helped turn a 17-0 lead into a 24-17 loss in Chicago in Tennessee's opener.

Now the Titans host the New York Jets (0-1) on Sunday, and edge rusher Jermaine Johnson called Levis a passionate and talented athlete who can throw the ball well. Johnson also noticed Levis can "panic” a little when plays aren't going his way.

“He was trying to do it for the right reason,” Johnson said. "But sometimes just better to take the sack.”

The Titans quarterback just started his 10th game and is learning with every snap. The loss to Chicago exposed Levis' footwork issues Tennessee first-year coach Brian Callahan thought he and his assistants had gotten fixed. Callahan called those mistakes “hard lessons” that have to be learned.

Practice and film work can do only so much. The best learning comes on game day, and Levis said after practice he has matured enough not to let bad plays or games linger.

He actually slept Sunday night, believing he's a good NFL quarterback. The best stat was scoring 17 straight points with Levis finishing 19 of 32 for 127 yards passing with a 52.5 rating. He threw one touchdown pass and also ran four times for 36 yards.

“Obviously a lot of things to get better on,” Levis said. "But watching that tape, I still have confidence and knowing that it’s just kind of a fluke play that I can definitely learn from.”

Levis said he got away with a similar throwaway earlier in that game, leading him to try it once again.

Lesson learned.

Callahan was impressed by Levis' calm demeanor, crediting the 33rd overall pick out of Kentucky in 2023 with recognizing what Chicago was doing on defense. That matters most because Callahan calls the offensive plays. Seeing Levis do that on the road in a loud stadium in a new offense was good to see.

The challenge is Levis's three turnovers came in the fourth quarter. He was stripped when sacked from behind followed by the pick-6, then the second interception came with 65 seconds left.

The quarterback who was 3-6 as a rookie with eight touchdown passes and only four interceptions now has two in the span of six minutes to start his second NFL season.

Callahan worked with quarterbacks Peyton Manning in Denver, Matthew Stafford in Detroit and watched Joe Burrow's growth in Cincinnati. Anyone who plays in the NFL long enough will be humbled.

“That’s part of playing in the NFL and part of being a leader and and part of being the face of a franchise,” Callahan said.

Wide receiver Calvin Ridley signed with Tennessee in part to work with Levis. Ridley caught three of the seven passes thrown to him for a team-high 50 yards. Ridley also doesn't think Levis had that bad of a game.

“Everyone has bad plays, does bad things,” Ridley said. "And I definitely me being here with Will I mean, the next day I knew he was going to be fine.”

Jets coach Robert Saleh sounds like he agrees. He complimented Levis as a young quarterback improving with every passing day.

"He’s another one that the sky’s the limit for him,” Saleh said.

Injury updates

Titans S Jamal Adams (hip) said he'll be playing after he practiced fully Wednesday along with RG Dillon Radunz (rib) and LB Otis Reese (concussion protocol). Five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, limited to 17 snaps in his first game back after being sidelined July 31 by an injured left knee, wasn't listed on the injury report.

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AP Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak contributed to this report.

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