Turron Davenport, ESPN
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Titans quarterback Will Levis he learned on Tuesday morning that he would be reduced to a reserve role this week. He was informed of his new role when he went to Titans coach Brian Callahan’s office for his weekly meeting.
The decision was made after Levis gave up four goals and was benched in last week’s 37-27 loss to the Bengals. The sophomore point guard was obviously disappointed with the decision, but admitted he could have played better. With three games left, Levis said he plans to take a day-by-day approach.
That doesn’t mean Levis thinks the door is closed to his future with the Titans.
“I still believe I can be the quarterback of this team,” Levis said Wednesday. “I have complete confidence in myself and my ability to lead any team in this league.”
In the meantime, Levis plans to do whatever he can to help Mason Rudolph as the starting quarterback. Rudolph described the transition as an easy dynamic because he and Levis have a good relationship. Both players said it didn’t change anything and didn’t make it any harder.
“Of course I sympathize,” Rudolph said. “I know how it feels when there is change, but we have always supported each other. He supported me and there was really nothing strange about it.”
Callahan said the decision to fill Levis was a difficult one, considering part of the head coach’s job was to maximize the potential of the player selected in the second round of the 2023 draft.
“I went back and watched a lot of things,” Callahan said. “It didn’t happen for lack of coaching or commitment. I mean, we gave everything we could every step of the way to put Will in a position to succeed, and he showed improvement. There are a lot of things he improved on, but at the moment there wasn’t enough consistency.”
When asked about Levis’ future, Callahan said his focus is more on preparing to win this week’s game. He promised to continue coaching Levis hard because he believes in the young quarterback’s ability to play the position and still feels he may have a future ahead of him.
Levis said he saw a good example of how to do this Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young he returned to form after being benched at the start of the season and re-established himself as the team’s future signal-caller.
“It happens to some of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the game,” Levis said. “I remember the last time I was benched, I came back furious and a year later I made the best shot of my life. So it’s best to see something similar happen to me.”
