The New York Jets continue to explore the quarterback market, working out former Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis on Wednesday at Florham Park. Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic first reported the news, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirming it. The Jets also brought in quarterback Jack Plummer for a workout as well.

Of course, the timing here is hard to ignore, and it may tell you a lot about where this organization’s head is as we near the 2026 season opener.

Why the timing matters

Look, the Jets play the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. That’s not a coincidence. The first team Will Levis works out for after being waived by Tennessee is their opening-week opponent? 

There’s something more to that in my eyes. 

This game already carries weight for the organization. The Jets are going up against former head coach Robert Saleh, and you know Jets owner Woody Johnson wants that win. Aaron Glenn is coaching for his job in Year 2 after a brutal 3-14 opening campaign. 

Glenn will also want to do anything he can to start the season 1-0. A game with this much organizational pressure demands every possible edge.

Could the Jets get Levis in the building, even if just briefly, to help them prepare for the Titans? That’s the question worth asking.

Rosenblatt reported the workout was for the practice squad, not the 53-man roster, but even a practice-squad addition ahead of a matchup against Levis’ former team could provide valuable intel on Tennessee’s schemes and tendencies.

The Jets’ current quarterback situation

The Jets have made several quarterback moves of their own in recent days. They released Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook during final roster cuts. Cook landed on the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad, and the Jets brought Zappe back on their own practice squad. That leaves Geno Smith and Cade Klubnik as the only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, which is fewer than most teams typically carry. 

The roster math alone makes the Levis workout significant regardless of the Week 1 matchup. Honestly, if they chose to add him to the team, he might even get a roster spot down the line depending on how things go. 

What Levis brings to the table

Let me not forget to at least talk about Will Levis the quarterback. Don’t get me wrong, Levis has had a rocky NFL career to this point. The Titans drafted him in the second round in 2023, and he started a good chunk of games that year after Ryan Tannehill went down. 

He opened the 2024 season as the starter before getting hurt, then split time with Mason Rudolph at various points. Then Levis missed the entire 2025 season after surgery on an AC joint injury in his throwing shoulder. 

Tennessee let him work through the preseason this year, but he was ultimately waived and didn’t even make the initial 53-man roster. He cleared the 24-hour waiver wire without a claim, making him a free agent.

But I’ll tell you this much: Will Levis has all the talent in the world. He has one of the best arms in the NFL. The issues have always been inconsistency and decision-making. 

Even Levis himself acknowledged the problem, saying he needed to “rewire his brain” after some rough turnovers early in the 2024 season against the Bears and the Jets (you probably remember).

Talent has never been the question. The question is whether he can put it all together, and whether a fresh start could help him do that.

What comes next

We’ll have to wait and see what the Jets decide. Maybe they sign Levis to the practice squad. Maybe they go with Plummer instead. Maybe neither workout leads to a signing. Who knows?

But the timing of all this is fascinating. The first team to bring in Will Levis after Tennessee cut him loose is the Titans’ Week 1 opponent. 

Whether this is about roster depth, game-prep intel, or both, the Jets are clearly trying to use every advantage available to them as they chase a much-needed opening-week win.