Titans upcoming Will Levis decision is a no brainer
NASHVILLE — Over the next two weeks, the Tennessee Titans will need to make a decision about rookie quarterback Will Levis' availability and health. Levis is recovering from a high ankle sprain he suffered in a loss to the Houston Texans on December 17th. With the team eliminated from playoff contention, there is a large […]
NASHVILLE — Over the next two weeks, the Tennessee Titans will need to make a decision about rookie quarterback Will Levis' availability and health.
Levis is recovering from a high ankle sprain he suffered in a loss to the Houston Texans on December 17th. With the team eliminated from playoff contention, there is a large contingent of Titans fans that was Tennessee to sit Levis down for the season and protect him.
But the Titans' decision is a no brainer. A healthy Will Levis needs to, and will play.
Importance of development
The importance of in-game reps for a rookie quarterback cannot be understated. Every week that Levis takes the field in 2023 is a week of learning and growing that will help him succeed in 2024 and beyond. Playing in games can teach you things that practice and the meeting room can't.
"A lot of the time you're only learning things through experience," Titans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly told me when I asked about the importance of Levis playing. "Any ability he gets to be able to go out there and help us win is going to be good. It's going to continue to help him learn and grow and develop into the type of player he wants to be."
Levis has been vocal about his desire to play and why he feels like it's important for him to be out there. Every week, the rookie quarterback seems to learn something new and improving his game.
"I think a lot of the growth I've made has just been through mistakes and the good things I've done on the field," Levis told me. "Seeing the growth from week to week is exciting and then to miss out on that growth for a week is disappointing."
As Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said earlier this week, these next two weeks of reps are invaluable for Levis. Especially with the pressure off and the team eliminated from playoff contention. These are opportunities to just go out there, play football, and work on your craft.
Injuries happen
If Levis is still injured or at risk of reinjury, the Titans should obviously not put his health at risk. You have to protect your players first and foremost. But the idea that Tennessee needs to sit Levis out of feat that something could happen to him behind this offensive line is silly.
Injuries are a part of football. They happen. They happen in no-contact practices the same as they do in games. A professional organization cannot withhold their young quarterback from developmental opportunities out of fear that he could get hurt because…that is always a possibility when playing this sport.
Quite frankly, it's pretty black and white. If Levis is still struggling with his ankle injury and won't be able to be effective, you sit him. This is not a playoff game that's worth toughing out an injury for. But if he's healthy and looks like himself (which he does), he absolutely needs to be out there against Houston on Sunday.
Mike Vrabel hints at injury situation with Jeffery Simmons, Amani Hooker
Some insight on important Titans injuries.
