A few NFL defenders have some advice for Will Levis if the Tennessee Titans quarterback is willing to listen.
Sometimes, taking a sack can be the best choice.
That’s what Chicago defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker mentioned after Levis threw a pick-6 while the defender had his legs wrapped up. This mistake contributed to a 24-17 loss in Chicago, turning what was a 17-0 lead into a defeat for Tennessee in their opener.
Now, as the Titans get ready to play the New York Jets (0-1) on Sunday, edge rusher Jermaine Johnson described Levis as a passionate and skilled player who can throw the ball well. Johnson also noted that Levis tends to “panic” a bit when things aren’t going smoothly.
“He was trying to do the right thing,” Johnson said. “But sometimes it’s better just to take the sack.”
Levis, who just started his 10th game, is still learning with each play. The loss to Chicago highlighted some footwork issues that Tennessee’s new coach, Brian Callahan, thought had been addressed. Callahan referred to these mistakes as “hard lessons” that have to be learned.
Practice and film study help, but the best learning happens during games. Levis mentioned after practice that he has grown enough to avoid letting bad plays or games affect him too much.
He actually slept well Sunday night, believing in his ability as an NFL quarterback. His best performance was scoring 17 straight points, completing 19 of 32 passes for 127 yards with a 52.5 rating. He threw one touchdown pass and ran four times for 36 yards.
“Obviously, there are many areas to improve,” Levis said. “But after watching the tape, I still have confidence and see it as just a fluke play that I can learn from.”
Levis said he had previously gotten away with a similar risky throw in that game, which led him to try it again.
Lesson learned.
Callahan was impressed by Levis’ calm attitude, appreciating how the 33rd overall pick from Kentucky in 2023 recognized Chicago’s defensive strategies. This is important because Callahan is the one calling the offensive plays. Seeing Levis handle this on the road in a noisy stadium and in a new offense was encouraging.
