Tag: Will Levis

See it: Titans’ Will Levis, Kyle Philips hook up for offseason work

QB guru Jordan Palmer recently shared a video of Titans QB Will Levis and WR Kyle Philips putting some work in.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis and wide receiver Kyle Philips are both facing a crucial time in their respective careers going into the 2024 season.

For Levis, he’s looking to cement himself as the franchise quarterback, something he showed flashes of being in 2023. Philips is facing a make-or-break year for himself after two campaigns that have been marred by injury and lackluster production, partly because of limited opportunities.

Levis and Philips showed some chemistry in a few games last season, with the UCLA product tallying two 60-yard performances, including a career-high 68 yards in Week 9. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to build off those games because of a lack of playing time in the second half of the season.

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Levis and Philips recently got together to put in some extra work, with the former throwing passes to the latter, which should strengthen their budding chemistry. The video comes from quarterback guru Jordan Palmer.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C59ZCcJv2ZC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

“Work always comes first with this dude,” Palmer wrote of Levis in the caption. “Year 2 loading…”

Titans head coach Brian Callahan stated he’s looking for someone to emerge in the slot and listed Philips as one of the candidates. Assuming he can be the guy, Philips should get more chances in what is expected to be a more pass-heavy offense.

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Titans’ Brian Callahan ‘very pleased’ with Will Levis’ demeanor, leadership

Titans QB Will Levis has impressed his new head coach so far this offseason, both in terms of leadership and demeanor.

As quarterback Will Levis enters his second season and looks to prove he’s “the guy” for the Tennessee Titans, part of his job is becoming a leader, something the Kentucky product is taking very seriously.

During his press conference on Wednesday, Titans head coach Brian Callahan said he’s been impressed with Levis on that front so far.

“He’s got two things going on,” Callahan said of Levis, per Grant Gordon of NFL.com. “He’s trying to build relationships and be a leader, as well as learn an entirely new way of doing and playing football than he’s been accustomed to in his first year. He’s got a lot on his plate.”

“I’ve been very pleased with his demeanor, his actions as he’s started the offseason program,” Callahan added. “And again, we’re in our first few days, but really excited about where he’s headed in that role.”

One big focus for Callahan is making sure that Levis is himself and not some manufactured character.

“I want Will to be him,” Callahan said. “He’s gotta do it in his own way. You can’t make people do anything that’s outside of their character or it doesn’t come across as genuine. I think Will does a really good job of staying true to who he is.

“I need Will to just be the best version of himself and he’s got a job to do as the leader of the offense, as the leader of the football team. And I think he understands that.”

Callahan has also noticed the drive that Levis has to get better and the fire the Kentucky product plays with is not some kind of act, it’s who he really is.

“Just from what I’ve seen so far, and again, I’m still learning Will every day that goes on, but he’s got an intensity and an intent every time he walks in the building,” Callahan said. “I think you see that in his play when you watch him play. You see that intensity, that fire that he’s got. That’s not manufactured, that’s how he is. He’s got a way about him that’s driven. I think he wants to be a great player and he puts the requisite work in.”

“He’s very determined to improve his game,” Callahan added. “You have that part, you’ve got a chance to do a lot of really cool things. But I’ve seen that from him in this early portion. He’s front and center, he takes notes, he asks questions. He does all the things you’d want to see early in the process of a guy that’s trying to improve his game and get better.”

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Can Will Levis be the second-year QB that will improve most this season?

Former Wildcat quarterback Will Levis was discussed on NFL Live

On NFL Live, analysts Laura Rutledge, Andrew Hawkins, Marcus Spears and Dan Orlovsky discuss which second year quarterback is in the best position to take the next step.

The passers they mentioned include Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson and former Kentucky Wildcats and current Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis. They also discuss what the Titans bringing in L’Jarius Sneed means for Tennessee’s defense.

The former Wildcat gunslinger threw for 1,808 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions last year. He recorded a 58.4 percent completion rate, while going 3-6 as a starter in his first season in the NFL.

The 6 foot 4, 229 pound rookie had his ups and down last season but will be under a new coach. He’ll get a fresh start in a new system to turn the luck of the Tennessee Titans around in 2024 and beyond.

Levis has his doubters going into 2024, but he is clearly talented. It will be interesting to watch how he develops going forward as a professional.

Titans’ Will Levis disrespected in rankings of AFC QBs

Titans QB Will Levis should’ve been higher in FanDuel’s rankings of AFC quarterbacks.

Nobody can argue against the fact that Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis still has something to prove going into what is a crucial second year for himself and the franchise, but ranking him behind signal-callers who have yet to take a snap in the NFL is just downright disrespectful.

And that’s exactly what FanDuel did recently. When ranking the 16 projected starters in the conference, Levis was placed second-to-last, falling behind NFL draft prospects such as Michael Penix Jr. and Drake Maye.

He also landed behind Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, who played less than half the games Levis did in 2023 due to injury.

The only quarterback Levis finished ahead of was Las Vegas Raiders signal-caller, Gardner Minshew.

Levis showed no shortage of flashes during his rookie campaign, which rightly has the fan base excited for what he can do in 2024 now that he’s going to have a better supporting cast around him.

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Titans QB Will Levis effortlessly throws dime during workout

Check out Titans QB Will Levis effortlessly throw the football during a workout.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis is facing what could be a turning point season in his career in 2024 as he look to prove that he is indeed the franchise quarterback the team is looking for.

Levis showed no shortage of flashes in his first season, but he also showed the rookie mistakes you’d expect to see. However, overall, it was difficult to fully gauge where he stands considering the mess around him.

The Kentucky product, who was taken at No. 33 overall in the 2023 NFL draft after the Titans traded up, is already hard at work preparing for his second season, as we saw in a video he posted to his Instagram story.

The first thing that immediately jumps out about Levis in the video is how beautiful his release is. Throwing the football truly looks smooth and effortless for the Titans signal-caller.

While Levis still has something to prove, he’s in a much better position to do so this time around after some of the additions the Titans have made on the offensive side of the ball.

That said, general manager Ran Carthon still has work to do upfront, as the team has yet to address the left tackle position. That should get taken care of in the draft later this month, though, and it’s still also possible the team makes an addition in free agency.

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Titans’ Will Levis showing leadership with free-agent signings

Titans GM Ran Carthon recently revealed that Will Levis asked for the phone numbers of all new players in order to reach out to them.

As he prepares to enter his second season in the NFL, Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis is already showing increased leadership, and in particular when it comes to the team’s new players.

Titans general manager Ran Carthon recently revealed that Levis has been asking for the phone numbers of every player Tennessee has signed so far this offseason in order to reach out to them, according to Jim Wyatt.

“The cool thing for him as he grows into this leadership role on this football team is he asked that every player that we sign, could he get their phone number so he could reach out to them,” Carthon said. “We love to see that.”

Levis is entering a much different situation than the one he saw during his rookie season, when the offensive line was putrid and the receiving corps. was extremely thin behind DeAndre Hopkins.

The Titans have done a good job thus far giving him more weapons, with the additions of wide receiver Calvin Ridley and running back Tony Pollard.

And, Tennessee made a key addition to the offensive line with the signing of center Lloyd Cushenberry, although there is still work to be done, with the Titans needing to at least add a left tackle.

However, the Titans are expected to address that need in the 2024 NFL draft, and the hope is Notre Dame’s Joe Alt will be the guy who solidifies the group upfront for the long term.

So far, Levis is excited with what the Titans are doing around him, as head coach Brian Callahan stated.

“We’ve surrounded (Will) with more playmakers, which I think every quarterback desires,” Callahan said. “So, we’ve had a chance to build some explosiveness I think… We’re trying to give him a chance to have success, and I think as a young quarterback that is all you can ask for, a team investing in the talent around you that gives you a chance to go out and perform.

“Will is really excited,” Callahan added. “I think it makes him want to work harder. He is an intense personality as it is. It inspires him to go work, which he doesn’t have any problem doing. Just the excitement of, man, we’re being aggressive, we’re trying to add good players. We aren’t sitting back, and (we’re) being aggressive in our offseason approach. I think he appreciates it and I think he is excited about it.”

It was difficult to fully evaluate Levis during his rookie campaign thanks to the lackluster group around him, but with an improved unit around him in 2024, that will not be the case in Year 2.

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Titans’ DeAndre Hopkins talks Calvin Ridley signing, ‘little brother’ Will Levis

Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins spoke about the addition of Calvin Ridley, his “little brother” Will Levis, and more.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is down in Orlando for the annual league meetings this week to spread awareness for flag football and expressed his excitement for the direction the franchise is heading.

“I’m happy, I’m smiling,” Hopkins said of the Titans’ offseason moves so far, per Jim Wyatt. “I’m trying to win a championship, and everything that Miss Amy is doing and Ran (Carthon) is doing is along those lines.

“It’s hard not to be happy about the moves we made this offseason, and where this team is going. My mindset is to win a championship this year for the Tennessee Titans, and that is how I am going to approach every day.”

Hopkins touched on the addition of wide receiver Calvin Ridley specifically and believes defenses are going to have a tough time preparing for the one-two punch he’ll form with the former Jacksonville Jaguar.

“I fell in love with his personality, and who he is as a human,” DHop said of Ridley. “Calvin is a great guy, he wants to be great and he is going to be great. Anything I can do to help him accomplish anything that he wants, that’s what I’ll do, just like the older guys did with me.

“But I think him and I on the field, it is going to be hard to kind of key in on one of us. It is only going to make defense prepare a little harder for us this year.”

With new head coach Brian Callahan, the Titans are expected to move into a more modern offense that will see them throw the ball more. Hopkins can’t wait to see how that looks, especially now that Ridley is aboard.

“I am very excited to get going under Brian’s offense, and his schemes,” Hopkins said. “Obviously I’ve talked to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and those guys told me that I would love this offense, and I think the sky is the limit, especially with a guy like Calvin. I am very excited for this offense.”

When it comes to his quarterback, Will Levis, Hopkins revealed he has been in constant contact with the second-year signal-caller and referred to the Kentucky product as “like a little brother.”

“Will and I talk all the time,” he said. “Will is like a little brother to me. Anywhere I can be instrumental in his development, I’ll do it.”

Hopkins has been quite instrumental in Levis’ development so far after being his most reliable target during a 2023 campaign in which the veteran broke 1,000 yards.

And, with a new offense that will be more pass-heavy in 2024, there’s a good chance Hopkins will post even better numbers in his second season in the two-tone blue.

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Titans’ Calvin Ridley talks time with Jaguars, working with Will Levis

Titans WR Calvin Ridley touched on his time with the Jaguars and working with a young QB like Will Levis.

Right up until the Tennessee Titans unexpectedly signed him in free agency, it looked like wide receiver Calvin Ridley was going to return to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

During his introductory press conference on Friday, Ridley said he wanted to go back to the Jags but it simply “wasn’t working out” and he was “uncomfortable at times” with the situation.

“I was just a little uncomfortable at times,” Ridley said, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “(The Titans) showed me that they want me here for a while. They told me already that they’re going to treat me as a grown man.”

A hot topic pertaining to Ridley and his time with the Jags was his inconsistent production.

Granted, he did top 1,000 yards, but he also had eight games in which he had 40 yards or less. Some blame that on Ridley himself, but others believe the Jags simply didn’t use him properly.

Regardless, the Alabama product looks at his time in Jacksonville as a win.

“I didn’t come late to nothing. I respected (the Jaguars) and everybody in the building,” Ridley said, per Terry McCormick of the Associated Press. “I look at it as a win for me personally, when I have to think about it like that. If I don’t, I’m going to think I’m a failure when I did pretty decent with two years off, I did pretty decent. I look at it as that.”

There has been concern about Ridley getting a long-term contract at the age of 29, but the former first-round pick believes that number doesn’t really reflect how he feels and he believes his arrow is pointing up.

“I’m ready to take off,” Ridley said, while also adding “I’m 29 on paper, but I’m probably like 25 for real to be honest with you.”

It’s understandable why Ridley feels that way. After all, he’s only played four full seasons in the NFL. He appeared in just five games in 2021 and was then suspended for the entirety of the 2022 campaign.

And, knowing that context, it makes his 1,000-yard season in 2023 more impressive.

As far as quarterback Will Levis is concerned, Ridley looks forward to working with the second-year signal-caller and believes his being a veteran will make communication with the Kentucky product easier.

“What I’m most excited about is that he’s young, and I’m a vet, and I feel like when you’re in that role, it’ll be a little more easier for me to talk to him and communicate with him,” Ridley said. “I’m excited that he’s young and probably willing to learn, but I’m older and willing to learn too.”

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Calvin Ridley could be the No. 1 receiver the Tennessee Titans desperately need

The Tennessee Titans were in desperate need of a No. 1 receiver, and they got one after giving Calvin Ridley a massive new contract.

All we knew before the Tennessee Titans knocked down the door and signed former Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million deal with $50 million fully guaranteed was that the Jaguars and the New England Patriots were in the mix. But the Titans were in need of a top receiver, they had the space to make the deal, and by the way, Ridley tore Tennessee’s defense to shreds in two games last season — he caught 13 passes on 19 targets for 208 yards and three touchdowns.

2023 was a comeback year for Ridley — selected with the 26th overall pick out of Alabama by the Falcons in the 2028 draft, Ridley was suspended for the entire 2022 season after running afoul of the NFL’s nebulous policies against gambling. Atlanta traded him to the Jaguars on November 1, 2022.

Why Calvin Ridley’s year-long gambling suspension is a hypocritical farce

Last season, Ridley caught 76 passes in 132 targets for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. The Titans needed a receiver of his caliber, and while some may see it as an overpay, general manager Ran Carthon and new head coach Brian Callahan obviously disagree with that

Two more teams emerge as suitors for Jameis Winston

Two more teams emerged as suitors for Jameis Winston. He isn’t lacking for options as free agency takes shape:

Jameis Winston isn’t lacking for options outside the New Orleans Saints. CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson repots that the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants are “among new teams that’ve shown preliminary interest” in Winston, along with the previously-reported Cleveland Browns.

Winston has said he intends to search for a team where he can compete to start, and the Titans look like the best fit — the only person standing in his way is second-year quarterback Will Levis, who wasn’t drafted by the new Tennessee coaching staff. Levis started nine games as a rookie, completing 58.4% of his passes, scoring 8 touchdown passes, and throwing 4 interceptions while being sacked 28 times with 7 fumbles. The Titans went 3-6 before overhauling their coaching staff.

Compare that to the other two situations, where the Browns and Giants must start Deshaun Watson and Daniel Jones after paying them so highly. At the same time, both of those quarterbacks missed extensive time with injuries last season, so these could be better opportunities for Winston to get on the field than they first appear. We’ll see where he ends up, but it’s looking like he won’t necessarily have to stay with the Saints in 2024.

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