Former Titans C Ben Jones has simple, but clear reason why run game has improved with Corey Levin after Lloyd Cushenberry’s injury
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans (2-11) put together their best rushing performance of the season in Week 14 in a win at the Cleveland Browns (3-10). A huge reason was because Tennessee’s offensive line outright dominated at the point of attack and did so with reserve center Corey Levin in the line-up while Lloyd Cushenberry […]
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans (2-11) put together their best rushing performance of the season in Week 14 in a win at the Cleveland Browns (3-10). A huge reason was because Tennessee’s offensive line outright dominated at the point of attack and did so with reserve center Corey Levin in the line-up while Lloyd Cushenberry deals with a foot injury.
The swap might not fix all the Titans ills, but it does seem to have made an appreciable difference.
Levin was drafted by Tennessee in 2017, was waived in 2019 and then returned to the club in 2021 after stints with the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots and New York Jets.
Since his return, Levin has been the best interior depth piece the Titans have had. He’s capable at both guard and center on short notice and spent all of training camp as the starting center for rookie quarterback Cam Ward. Cushenberry was rehabbing from an Achilles tendon injury he sustained in November of 2024.
In the two weeks that Cushenberry has been out of the line-up, Tennessee’s 29th ranked rushing attack by success rate (36.9%) has seen an uptick.
“Lloyd’s a great player, like stud all the way around,” former Titans center Ben Jones said in a recent appearance on The Buck Reising Show. “He’s been banged up. But having some guys that you’ve taken a million reps with in camp, because during the season, you’re really not getting that many individual reps, team reps, you’re repping to play once in camp, you’re just banking reps and the really how comfortable you are running a single, double an A block like you get millions of those in OTAs in camp. He just missed out of those with Zeitler.
“It’s hard to progress and kind of get a feel for only on game when you’re really only wearing pads once a week and getting that one block maybe once a week. So yes, Corey has a million more reps at it. They’re probably comfortable with him making the calls how he’s going to make it. So yeah, that’s why I always try to practice when I was playing because I wanted to be the same guy. I wanted the same guy beside me every week.”
In 10 appearances this season with starts in the last two weeks, Levin grades out with a 71.1 overall according to Pro Football Focus.
Cushenberry’s sample size is significantly larger with 11 starts this season. The 2024 free agent signing grades out significantly worse (54.6). Of centers with at least 11 starts this season, Cushenberry has allowed the fifth most pressures (21) in pass protection this season. Coupled with a 2025 cap hit of $14.2 million and $12.5 million next season, it is easy to envision a scenario in which the Titans move on from Cushenberry at year’s end.
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
