After nearly a month spent rehabbing his shoulder, Will Levis is set to return as the Tennessee Titans’ starting quarterback in Week 10.
Head Coach Brian Callahan confirmed on Friday that Levis’s AC joint injury in his throwing shoulder has healed enough for him to reclaim his starting role:
“Will is going to start this week, just to let you guys know now. No reason to wait. Will’s going to play; he had a really good week of practice, feels really good, best he’s looked in a couple of weeks, so I’m excited to see him out there.”
The Titans’ coaching staff has consistently hinted at a period of growth for Levis during his time on the sidelines.
When asked about what Levis learned while being out, Callahan shared on Friday: “I think he learned a little bit about himself and the process.
He learned the importance of being honest about how your body feels—knowing when pushing through an injury is counterproductive to both yourself and the team, rather than beneficial just by being on the field.”
This is a lesson many players face at the NFL level, as Callahan explained:
“There’s a line that players learn to navigate as they gain experience. That part was beneficial, I think I learned a lot too in terms of managing that process.
But really, it’s been good for him to have some patience. And to understand that it doesn’t benefit us if he’s not feeling great or can’t play the position the way he needs to.”
Levis has missed three consecutive starts and has only seen the field once in the last six weeks.
His initial injury occurred in the first quarter of the Week 4 game against the Dolphins.
Week 5 was the Titans’ bye week, and Levis, in hindsight, made a questionable decision by playing all of Week 6 against the Colts. Weeks 7, 8, and 9 saw backup Mason Rudolph step in for Tennessee.
“Feeling good, it’s been a good week so far, taking more reps,” Levis told reporters on Thursday. “Yeah, we’ll see how it goes this week, but I’m feeling good.”
Levis elaborated on the process of testing his recovery during practice: “It’s a daily routine of trying different things, coming off the field, and assessing soreness or pain levels throughout the day.
So it’s just been that, and I’ll know I’m ready when I’m making those throws.”
He admitted that lingering pain and soreness kept him sidelined against the Patriots last week.
“There’s a point where I can feel like the soreness will be manageable. But it’s more about the strength and the capability of my shoulder and arm.”
Above all, it’s clear that Levis is eager to get back on the field. He’s been battling frustration over the past few weeks of enforced patience.
“Yeah, it’s tough. I’m as competitive as they come, and I want to be out there every week. It’s frustrating when you’re watching from the sideline and can’t be out there playing.
Hopefully, I’ll be good to go this week. I’ve been champing at the bit, ready to go out there and lead our team.”
This week may be a crucial turning point in the Will Levis experiment in Tennessee.
The coaching staff took a cautious approach to his return, prioritizing his availability for the Titans’ final nine games.
For the coaches, it provides a fair window to evaluate the young quarterback they committed to for this season. For Levis, it’s a vital opportunity to solidify his claim as the franchise quarterback.
To reach that goal, there’s still a lot of work ahead for him.
