'Gritty!' DeMeco Ryans Praises Tennessee Titans Rookie QB Will Levis
Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud has been the talk of this rookie class, and rightfully so. He is well on his way to Offensive Rookie of the Year and, at 7-6, has Houston exceeding expectations and in the thick of a playoff race.
The Texans’ Week 15 opponent, the Tennessee Titans, also took a quarterback in April’s NFL Draft: Will Levis. He didn’t start until Week 8, but he too has shown flashes, epitomized by Monday night’s miracle comeback over the Miami Dolphins.
A concussion may keep Stroud out of the teams’ first matchup of this new era, but Levis will look to engineer another win and keep his job safe for next season.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ahead of the contest, Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans spoke about what he’s seen from Levis.
“What sticks out is his toughness, gritty, he’s trying to run you over,” Ryans said. “Has a very strong arm. Throws the deep ball at a high rate. I like his play demeanor. Can tell he’s a guy the locker room will rally behind.”
If Monday was any indication, Tennessee loves its rookie quarterback. Levis was fired up after taking the lead, one that seemed improbable after being down 14 with just over two minutes left. His teammates were equally amped, going as far as to interrupt his postgame interview to celebrate the win.
Across seven starts, Levis has completed 58.3 percent of his passes for eight touchdowns and three interceptions. Passing touchdowns aren’t the norm for a Titans franchise that opts to let running back Derrick Henry cook in the red zone, but they may become more frequent if Levis keeps testing defenses downfield. Of 31 qualified passers, none have averaged more air yards per attempt than him (10).
Levis is a tough runner who is still learning to slide, and that nature has galvanized Tennessee. He is a fairly raw product, but the arm talent and physical strength are hard to deny.
As for the Texans, it will be imperative to make Levis look like a rookie. A loss all but ends their playoff aspirations. With a defense that has struggled to make unproven passers look mediocre, Sunday is as much of a challenge for Ryans as it is the team he leads.
