Will Levis will start for the Titans on Sunday

After missing almost a month due to a shoulder injury, Will Levis is returning to action. Tennessee head coach Brian Callahan announced that Levis will start on Sunday vs. the Los Angeles Chargers, his first game back since the Titans’ loss to the Colts on Oct. 13.

Levis suffered a Grade 2 AC joint sprain in Week 4 vs. the Miami Dolphins and, after a bye week, attempted to return to action vs. the Colts in Week 6. It was too much too soon for his shoulder, so backup Mason Rudolph started the last three games for the Titans, helping lead them to a 20-17 overtime win vs. New England last week, only their second victory of the season. The extended rest has both Levis and Callahan confident the former Kentucky quarterback is ready to step back into the starting lineup.

“Will had a really good week of practice,” Callahan said today. “He felt really good. It’s the best he’s looked in a couple of weeks, so we’re excited to see him go forward.”

It’s been a rough second year for Levis, who struggled with turnovers before injuring his shoulder, throwing seven interceptions and losing three fumbles. In five starts, he’s completed 83 of 125 passes for 699 yards and five touchdowns. He was a full participant in Thursday and Friday’s practices, telling reporters he’s taking extra care to make sure his shoulder is ready to go for Sunday.

“I just want to make sure that I can go out there and make all the throws the way that I could before I got hurt, and it’s an everyday process of testing different things and coming off the field and monitoring my soreness or pain level throughout the day,” Levis said on Thursday. “So it’s just been that, and I’ll know when I’m ready, when I know I’m making those throws.”

Callahan said the time off was good for Levis’ shoulder and mindset as he continues to learn the ropes as a pro.

“I think he learned a little bit about himself and the process. Learned about how to be honest about how your body feels and when fighting through an injury or when trying to fight through something is detrimental to you and to the team as opposed to helping the team by being out there.”

The Titans have seemingly thrown the towel in on this season, but it’s not too late for Levis to make his case for the future. He’s determined to make the most of the opportunities ahead — without putting too much pressure on himself.

“I am just going to try to operate the offense the best way that I can,” Levis said. “I feel like I’ve gotten better, and I think I’ll show improvement in that area. But I am not going into this second stint of the season being like: ‘I have to play this way, or another way.’ I think you can get into trouble when you think like that. I am just trying to operate the offense, and just try and be the best quarterback I can for this team.”