Will Levis showcases elite arm talent in electric NFL debut
NASHVILLE — For Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis, his NFL debut against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday marked a lifelong dream come true. For Titans fans, it was an electrifying, surreal, and unfamiliar feeling. The Titans have a quarterback. His name is Will Levis. He can make every throw in the book and has […]
NASHVILLE — For Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis, his NFL debut against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday marked a lifelong dream come true. For Titans fans, it was an electrifying, surreal, and unfamiliar feeling.
The Titans have a quarterback. His name is Will Levis. He can make every throw in the book and has all the tools to be Tennessee's next face of the franchise.
Levis completed 19 of his 29 passes on Sunday afternoon while totaling 238 passing yards and four touchdowns through the air. The 24-year-old rookie quarterback connected in the end zone with DeAndre Hopkins three times and displayed elite arm talent in his first taste of NFL action.
What can you really say about Levis that hasn't already been said? He was stellar on Sunday. He was poised, confident, accurate, and made some off-platform throws that will get you out of your seat.
Going against an Atlanta Falcons defense that entered Sunday ranked in the top 10 in scoring, passing, and total yards allowed, Levis threw three of the 10 longest touchdown passes by air distance in the NFL this season. His arm is explosive and effortless. He gets rid of the football with a flick of the wrist and his footwork is efficient.
It was the type of stuff I saw from him at Kentucky that had me so optimistic when the Titans traded up to draft him 33rd overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. It was the stuff that had scouts and former quarterbacks raving about his physical ability. Here's a couple of my favorites throws from Sunday afternoon.
Sitting at 2-4 with the trade deadline looming, the Titans were in desperate need of a spark this weekend. Levis did one better and set the whole stadium on fire.
That may have surprised some people around the NFL that weren't too familiar with Levis' game. But according to Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee's rookie quarterback has been showing off his elite arm talent in practice all fall.
"We’ve seen it in practice. We've seen that even when he was on scout team letting it rip to Mason (Kinsey) and other guys that aren't on the 53-man roster," said Hopkins after the game. "So, we always knew Will (Levis) had an arm like that. It's just on us to come down with the ball and keep running."
Titans safeties Amani Hooker and Elijah Molden both mentioned similar experiences to me in the locker room after the game. Molden remembered marveling at how easy Levis makes advanced throws look with a mere flick of the wrist.
Levis' ability to convert on explosive passing plays also opened up a lot of things for Derrick Henry in the run game. Henry went over 100 yards rushing for the second time this season and gave a lot of credit to Levis for being able to take the top off the defense.
"He balled out, huh? He was playing out of his mind. It was good to see, because he works so hard," said Henry after the game. As for Levis' command of the huddle and demeanor? "He was calm, cool and collected. He took charge when he needed to, was voicing what we need to do better and echoing what the coaches were giving him and then he was saying it to us. He did a great job, and I'm so glad he had a great game today."
There should be very little to debate moving forward. Not only is Levis the better of Tennessee's two young quarterbacks, he's the best option for the Titans at quarterback period. When Ryan Tannehill returns from his high ankle sprain, his job might not be there.
Sunday afternoon was one to remember in Nashville. The Titans passed the torch to Levis and he may never give it back.
Will Levis’ debut ends any Titans quarterback controvery
NASHVILLE — Will Levis led the Tennessee Titans (3-4) to a win over the Atlanta Falcons (4-4) by a score of 28-23 on Sunday. Decked out in Houston Oilers throwback uniforms, the rookie threw four touchdowns passes in his debut. It was the first time the Tennessee's offense had scored as many points since Week […]
