Tyler's Take: Tennessee Titans Must Sit Will Levis Rest of Season with Future in Mind
The Tennessee Titans answered the biggest question they had about their future coming into the 2023 season. Will Levis is their quarterback of the future, no matter how long that future lasts. Which is why watching Levis get bent like a pretzel and injured against the Houston Texans could inspire nightmares.
The injury to Levis creates an opportunity for the Titans to do the smart thing that not only benefits Levis long term, but helps the Titans some in the short term as well. Levis should sit the rest of the season and here are three reasons why.
Health
Whether it be short or long term, Levis' health needs to be paramount. Titans coach Mike Vrabel admitted Levis' injury is similar to the ankle issues Ryan Tannehill dealt with last year. Issues that ultimately ended his season and required surgery. That is not the path you want Levis going down at 24 years old.
If Levis were to return to the field, there is no way he would be at 100% with three weeks left to go. The injury typically will see a player out for multiple weeks or severely limited. There is no reason to put Levis in that situation.
Playoffs and Picks
If the Titans were fighting for a playoff spot, maybe it would be worth it for Levis to play out the year while being limited, but with the Titans officially eliminated, what would Levis even be playing for? He has now made eight starts, nearly half a season, and he has gotten enough experience and exposure.
We know Levis is very capable when given time and should be even better with a competent offense around him. Creating that competent offense is now what's most important. The best way to do that is by improving your pick in the NFL draft. With no playoff dreams and a benefit to be found in losing, it makes all the sense in the world to keep Levis off the field now that he is banged up.
Offensive Line Won't Get Better
The biggest issue for the Titans all season has been the offensive line. It is clear as day, with no debates. It has now gotten two quarterbacks injured and given up 50 sacks, one more than 2022's group despite having three more games to play. And they aren't getting any better in the next three weeks.
Levis, on a bum ankle mind you, would be a sitting duck behind this group even more than he already has been. When Tannehill returned from his initial injury, he reaggravated it while being sacked and it made things worse. That is Levis' fate if the Titans don't play this smart.
The Titans have the highest amount of cap space in the NFL in 2024 as things stand now and will have eight draft picks with some being pretty valuable. Make sure that the next time Will Levis drops back to pass, it isn't behind the worst offensive line this team has had in a decade.
Related stories on Titans-Texans
- TEXANS CLAIM TART: Not only did the Tennessee Titans lose their Week 15 matchup to the Houston Texans, but they'll be losing their starting nose tackle to them as well. After being surprisingly cut by the Titans on Saturday, Teair Tart was claimed by the Texans on Monday. CLICK HERE
- WEEK 15 TITAN UP-TITAN DOWN: The Tennessee Titans didn't have a lot of winners in a soul-crushing loss to the Houston Texans in Week 15, but there were definitely some losers during the madness. CLICK HERE
- LEVIS INJURY UPDATE: The Tennessee Titans' loss to the Houston Texans stung a bit more watching rookie quarterback Will Levis get injured and according to head coach Mike Vrabel, the injury is similar to Tannehill's ankle injury. CLICK HERE
- TITANS LOSE IN OT: The Tennessee Titans lost at home in overtime again, falling to the Houston Texans 19-16 despite having an early 13-point lead. They struggled offensively after their opening scoring drive and fell to 5-9, getting eliminated from the postseason. CLICK HERE
