Titans head coach reveals plan for QB Will Levis' return from injury in Week 10 at Chargers

After nearly a month rehabbing his shoulder, Will Levis will make his return as the Tennessee Titans starting quarterback in Week 10. Head Coach Brian Callahan said on Friday that Levis's AC joint injury to his throwing shoulder was finally healthy enough to return to the starting lineup: "Will will start this week, just to […]

Easton Freeze — Tennessee Titans Beat Writer
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Oct 13, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans Will Levis (8) takes the field against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
© Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

After nearly a month rehabbing his shoulder, Will Levis will make his return as the Tennessee Titans starting quarterback in Week 10.

Head Coach Brian Callahan said on Friday that Levis's AC joint injury to his throwing shoulder was finally healthy enough to return to the starting lineup:

"Will will start this week, just to let you guys know now. No reason to wait. Will's going to play, he had a really good week of practice, feels really good, best he's looked in a couple of weeks, so I'm excited to go see him play."

The Titans coaching staff has repeatedly alluded to a period of growth for Levis during his time on the bench. When asked what Levis has learned during his time off, Callahan said Friday "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."

This is something many players have to learn at the NFL Level, Callahan explained:

"There's a line there that guys learn as they get experience. And so that part was good, I think I learned a lot too in terms of managing that process. But really, it's been good for him to have a little patience. And to know that it doesn't do us any good if he doesn't feel great and he doesn't feel like he can go play the position the way he needs to."

Levis has missed 3 consecutive starts, and has only really played once in the past 6 weeks. His initial injury happened in the 1st quarter of the Week 4 Dolphins game, Week 5 was the Titans bye, and Levis (in retrospect, foolishly) played all of Week 6 vs. the Colts. Weeks 7, 8, and 9 for the Titans have been with backup Mason Rudolph at the helm.

"Feeling good, it's been a good week so far, taking more reps" Levis told reporters Thursday. "Yea, we'll see how it goes this week, but feeling good."

Levis expanded on his practice process in trying to return. "It's an everyday process of testing different things, coming off the field and monitoring my soreness or pain level throughout the day. So, it's just been that, and I'll know when I'm ready when I'm making those throws"

Levis shared that he dealt with significant enough pain and soreness last week to keep him out against the Patriots. "There's a point where I can feel like it'll be manageable, the soreness at least. But it's more so the strength and the ability of my shoulder and my arm."

Above all else, you can tell in talking to him that he's a guy who is desperate to get back on the horse and has been frustrated by his past couple weeks of necessary patience.

"Yea, it's tough. I'm competitive as heck, and I want to be out there every week. And it sucks when you're out there and you can't be playing. Hopefully I'll be good to go this week. I've been champing at the bit like you said, excited to go out there and lead our team."

This is almost certainly the last call on the Will Levis experiment in Tennessee. His coaches played it safe bringing him back, because having him available for the Titans' final 9 games is important for everyone involved. For the coaching staff, it's a fair final runway for the young QB they vowed to give the season to prove himself. And for Levis, it's his opportunity to claw back and claim the mantle of franchise QB.

In order to reach that goal, he has a lot of work to do.

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