The Tennessee Titans appear to have made their decision at quarterback for Week 8 against the Atlanta Flacons, with the team reportedly planning on starting Will Levis in place of an injured Ryan Tannehill.
This is the move the vast majority of the fan base wanted to see, and it’s the right call by the team.
After all, we’ve seen enough of Malik Willis to know he isn’t the answer, and now it’s time to see what the 2023 second-round pick has with the Titans set to pivot to the future, which hopefully will involve more trades by the Oct. 31 deadline.
Giving Levis a look now will help the Titans better understand their situation at quarterback going into 2024, when the team will start to rebuild this roster.
However, I don’t think Levis will simply be kicked to the side if he struggles in 2023, so expect the evaluation of the young signal-caller to continue into next season.
Here’s how Titans social media reacted to the decision.
Excited to see Will Levis at the Hellman on Sunday. I’ll see myself out.
— Two Tone Fanatics (@twotonefanatics) October 25, 2023
This is the right decision for the #Titans (and one that we’ve been predicting on @FWordsPod since training camp). Finding out what you have in Levis is the most important objective for this franchise moving forward in 2023, for better or worse. https://t.co/IyBnok60xH
— Mike Herndon (@MikeHerndonNFL) October 25, 2023
Now that we know it’s going to be Levis, I think it’s important to set reasonable expectations. If you think that he’s going to step in and the offense is going to fly up and down the field against Atlanta, I think you’re probably setting yourself up for disappointment.
The…
— Mike Herndon (@MikeHerndonNFL) October 25, 2023
The only sensible decision the #Titans could've made.
This was the exact prediction that we laid out on both shows with @MikeHerndonNFL & @BradenGall since preseason started
No other scenario made sense. https://t.co/eOjXAo92fw
— Football & Other F Words (@FWordsPod) October 25, 2023
It’s Mayo Time!!
Funny Vrabel tried to “make the Falcons prep for 2 QBs” which is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard and then this comes out the next day.
Just be transparent and stop with the half-truths. Vrabel is allergic to transparency. https://t.co/dprRt5wbEL
— TicTacTitans (@TicTacTitans) October 25, 2023
There is a chance we look back 20 years from now and Sunday’s game is one of the greatest moments in #Titans history.
If Levis balls out in a win while wearing the Oilers throwbacks and then turns into the QB we’ve been hoping for it’ll be stuff of legend. pic.twitter.com/MqgblF5y0a
— TicTacTitans (@TicTacTitans) October 25, 2023
https://t.co/OFguiLHaMk pic.twitter.com/IshvRlBdIX
— Robert Greenlaw (@RobOnBroadway) October 25, 2023
LFG!! ⚔️#Titans pic.twitter.com/nBoiHNy49Z
— Shaun Calderon (@ShaunMichaels98) October 25, 2023
I honestly could care less about the Win or the Loss on Sunday. (Of course I want us to Win)… But as long as Will Levis plays well and shows he can be the guy is the most important thing. #Titans
— Jakoby (@Jjakobbyy) October 25, 2023
Desmond Ridder vs Will Levis will be mentioned alongside the worst football games ever played https://t.co/tb2U3mlEoF
— Big T (@ConnerHKnapp) October 25, 2023
Will Levis would be 7th rookie QB to start this season (Stroud, Young, Richardson, O’Connell, Thompson-Robinson and Bagent).
It would be 2nd time in 3 years that 7+ rookie QBs started in 1st 8 weeks (2021). It never happened previously in a non-strike season during SB era. https://t.co/msZbQkJzgG
— Jason Starrett (@starrettjason) October 25, 2023
Full disclosure: I’m personally rooting hard for Will Levis to succeed just so I can witness the unprecedented heel-turning and retconning from #Titans fans on him.
From Nov-Feb last year I sorta felt like I was taking crazy pills because I was seriously unconvinced… (1/3)
— Easton Freeze (@eastonfreeze) October 25, 2023
…mid/late 1st round prospect.
The receipts out there on Levis being a bum and a waste of a pick are more plentiful than grains of sand on all the worlds beaches. It will be GLORIOUS if he’s good and I get to dig into them. (3/3)
— Easton Freeze (@eastonfreeze) October 25, 2023
Don't think this comes as a shock to anyone. https://t.co/hKi0U7pUoe
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) October 25, 2023
Logical for at least a couple reasons:
–Levis is the team's more recent pick, drafted by the new GM.
–Willis hasn't looked like a future starter in the opportunities he's received. https://t.co/NkcrM29CPn— John Glennon (@glennonsports) October 25, 2023
This always made the most sense. Have to see what you have in Levis. https://t.co/P3YkhuRkPz
— Ben Arthur (@benyarthur) October 25, 2023
The expected thing and the right thing.
The premium on #Titans’ protection highest all season. https://t.co/TodEvWgI5Q
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) October 25, 2023