Will Levis will start at quarterback for the Tennessee Titans in their season finale on Sunday against the Houston Texans.
Head coach Brian Callahan announced on Friday that Levis will make his 12th start of the season. He returns to the lineup after being replaced by veteran Mason Rudolph in the last two games. Levis was benched following his fourth turnover, a pick-6, in a loss to Cincinnati on December 15. He has not played since then.
Callahan mentioned that Rudolph will also play some during the game, but if Levis is performing well, he will stay in. “It’s a little bit of a feel thing,” Callahan explained. “If a guy is playing well, I’d like him to keep playing. But they will rotate.
Mason will play at some point. I would say I’m almost certain, he will play at some point in the first half, so it won’t be a half and half thing. But again, if Will is playing well, and he’s feeling it, I’ll let him keep playing.”
The Titans wanted to use this season to evaluate Levis, who has had both good and bad performances. Among his 12 touchdown passes, one stands out as the longest in the NFL this season—a 98-yard TD pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine against Minnesota. However, Levis has also thrown four interceptions that were returned for touchdowns and lost five fumbles.
Callahan said Sunday’s game will contribute to the team’s ongoing evaluation of Levis, who still has two more years on his rookie contract with Tennessee. The coach also added that Levis’s performance in this game won’t be the sole factor in determining his future with the team.
“I’d say it all matters. Every time you take the field, it’s all a part of it,” Callahan said. “I don’t know that one thing in this game is going to overshadow, good or bad, the entire breadth of work for the season. But it certainly matters. I want him to play well, and I hope he does.”
The Titans (3-13) have ruled out seven players for the game against the Texans (9-7). These players include running back Tyjae Spears (concussion), outside linebacker Arden Key (hand), safety Amani Hooker (shoulder), wide receiver Tyler Boyd (foot), linebacker Otis Reese (ankle), tackle Jaelyn Duncan (shoulder), and kicker Nick Folk (abdomen). Folk will miss his third straight game but finishes the season leading the NFL with a 95.5% field goal accuracy.
Tennessee is currently in line for the second overall pick in the April draft. A loss, combined with a New England win, would give the Titans a shot at the top pick. A win, combined with other results, could drop them as low as eighth in the draft.
