First-year Titans coach Brian Callahan is sticking with young quarterback Will Levis despite the turnovers in their three losses this season.
To better protect Levis, a change has already been made at right tackle.
Right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere was replaced by Jaelyn Duncan after allowing a strip-sack of Levis, which was one of three turnovers in a 30-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Levis was sacked eight times, the most he has faced in his 12 NFL starts.
“We got to play better around him,” Callahan said.
Callahan also took responsibility for the unexpected start of a franchise that invested heavily to improve the team around Levis.
Still searching for his first victory as a head coach, Callahan could point to a defense with seven new starters that hasn’t made any turnovers this season. Additionally, the Titans’ offense has failed to score in the fourth quarter.
Levis, the 33rd overall pick in 2023 from Kentucky, has eight turnovers in three games, including two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. Callahan stated he won’t overreact to an interception.
“We’ve not played a complete game at any phase at any point yet,” Callahan said. “We’re capable of way better than what we put on the field the last three weeks. No one’s coming to save us, so we’ve got to figure it out.”
The Titans did manage to strengthen Levis’ connection with four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who was returning from a knee injury that kept him out for much of the preseason. He caught six of the seven passes thrown to him for a team-high 73 yards and a touchdown.
Hopkins was also the target on the pass that two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander intercepted and returned for a pick-six near the end of the first quarter. Hopkins acknowledged the need for improvement and advised Levis to keep his head up.
