Report: Titans preparing to start rookie QB Will Levis vs. Falcons

The Will Levis era looks like it’s officially coming to fruition for the Tennessee Titans, and it’s beginning this weekend.

With Ryan Tannehill likely out for Sunday’s showdown with the Falcons, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that Levis is being prepared to start against Atlanta, which would mark his debut as a rookie.

“Sources: The #Titans are preparing rookie QB Will Levis to start on Sunday, as the 2nd rounder should make his NFL debut,” Rapoport shared, via X. “With Ryan Tannehill (ankle) likely out, coach Mike Vrabel said both Levis and Malik Willis would play. But Levis is expected to be the primary QB.”

While the aforementioned Malik Willis was the first into the game against the Baltimore Ravens when Tannehill was carted off, it’s evident the Titans believe they know what they have in the former Liberty quarterback.

Meanwhile, Levis was drafted to ascend to the role of Tennessee’s franchise quarterback in the near future, and it’s evident the future may be here.

The former Kentucky quarterback, with was selected with the No. 33 overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, has had to wait to see the field in the NFL, while his rookie counterparts have made their debuts. 

It’s worked out well for the Houston Texans with CJ Stroud, but not as much so with the Indianapolis Colts and Anthony Richardson (due to injury) and the Carolina Panthers with Bryce Young.

Time will tell how it goes for Will Levis and if his time is coming, but a new era seems to be on the way for the Tennessee Titans moving forward in 2023.

More on Will Levis, Tennessee Titans

Moreover, Will Levis started his career at Penn State and, while known, he didn’t get much attention while in College Park. That’s why he elected to transfer and then, once he arrived in Lexington, everything changed for him in terms of career trajectory.

In his first season at UK, Levis threw for a career-high 2,826 yards and 24 touchdowns on a 66% completion rate. That helped the Wildcats earn a 10-3 record, including a win in the Citrus Bowl.

Then, as a senior, things got off the rails a tad. A lot changed considering there was a new offensive coordinator, a shift in offensive personnel, and nagging injuries he had to deal with for the duration of his campaign. Still, he was able to throw for 2,400 more yards and 19 more touchdowns. That helped him finish his career at Kentucky at 17-7 as a starter.

Coming out of high school, Levis was a three-star prospect in the 2018 class per On3’s Industry Rankings. He didn’t crack the Top 500 as an overall recruit but was rated as a Top-50 QB in the class.