The Tennessee Titans misplaced a sloppy recreation to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15. After turning the ball over a career-high 4 occasions, the Titans benched Will Levis for veteran backup Mason Rudolph. On Wednesday, Tennessee made the quarterback change official, naming Rudolph the group’s starter transferring ahead and relegating Levis to backup duties.
Regardless of the dangerous information, the second-year passer is satisfied that he’ll ultimately regain the beginning position, in keeping with John Glennon of the Nashville Put up.
“I do know that there’s a constructive future for me whether or not it’s right here or someplace else… Hopefully I can present and show I can nonetheless be the man,” Levis stated after studying he’d be the Titans’ backup QB for the remainder of the season.
“I don’t suppose that that’s the top of the dialog… I nonetheless consider that I might be the franchise quarterback for this group. I’ve the utmost confidence in myself and my capacity to steer any group on this league. I believe this yr was nice growth for me, and I believe I actually did enhance. Certain as heck don’t need to exit like that,” Levis added, per the Nashville Put up.
Since being chosen by the Titans within the second spherical of the 2023 draft, Levis has performed 20 video games. He’s turned the ball over 25 occasions, which is tied for the sixth most within the NFL for the reason that begin of the 2023 season.
This yr he’s second within the league with 17 turnovers in simply 11 video games. He’s thrown 12 interceptions, which is tied for the fourth-most, and he’s misplaced an NFL-leading 5 fumbles. On Sunday, he threw his fourth pick-six of the season, which additionally leads the league.
Will Levis gained’t take his benching sitting down
Turnovers have clearly been a persistent downside for the younger passer. Head coach Brian Callahan confronted the quarterback on the sideline after a reckless fumble within the purple zone throughout a Week 2 loss to the New York Jets. A pick-six the next week already had Titans followers calling for Levis to be benched.
Associated Tennessee Titans InformationArticle continues beneath
Along with the turnover issues, Levis has been sacked 40 occasions (the fifth-most within the league), he’s thirty third general with 174.2 yards per recreation, whereas rating thirty third in QBR and thirty sixth in passer score.
To be honest, Levis has improved his completion share. He obtained as much as 63.7 p.c earlier than being benched this season in comparison with 58.4 p.c in 9 video games final yr. And his landing fee has additionally gone up. However his interception fee has skyrocketed and his sack share has jumped as nicely. In the meantime his yards per try, yards per recreation and passer score have all dipped in 2024.
Whereas it’s potential the group strikes on from Levis completely, Callahan made it clear the benching is just for this season because it provides the group the most effective probability to win. At 3-11 and lengthy since eradicated from playoff rivalry, it’s telling that the Titans aren’t utilizing their misplaced season to develop Levis, if the group nonetheless views him as its quarterback of the long run.