Monday’s headline from the field was obvious: Will Levis had a good day.
It was by far the rookie quarterback’s best practice in his first Tennessee Titans training camp, featuring several impressive throws.
He’s asked about it. But he isn’t interested in talking about those throws. He’s dwelling on one he missed at practice the other day.
“You don't think about it,” Levis says, “but then you end up going back and rewatching it for the dozenth time that night and figuring out, 'Hey, what could I have done better just to make that throw not happen the next time?' You're an NFL quarterback. You're never supposed to miss that throw, you know?”
Such an answer was revealing. It confirmed two things we'd heard about this new Titans QB. That Levis is an especially hard worker, yes, and he’s a perfectionist who’s known to be hard on himself.
You do see that already.
We’d also heard about the arm. Saw that Monday, too, in a 7-on-7 period near the goal line.
Ziiiiip. A touchdown to tight end Justin Rigg, his old Kentucky teammate.
Ziiiiip. Another one, this time to receiver Tre’Shaun Harrison.
Ziiiiip. To receiver Reggie Robertson. You guessed it: Touchdown.
Three touchdowns in a row, all the type that'll lift an eyebrow. Throws into tight windows in the red zone. Indeed, throws that an NFL quarterback is supposed to make. Levis can make them. And he knows it.
At his best, he looks capable and confident and — here’s a potential separator between him and second-year quarterback Malik Willis — DECISIVE in his release. He’s cutting passes loose with little wasted time.
Collectively, it’s why Levis was projected to go among the top few picks in April’s NFL draft.
But he didn’t, and he’s here, flinging darts at receivers who aren’t exactly household names. The Titans so far have had Levis working mostly behind Ryan Tannehill and Willis. All of the quarterbacks are getting reps, but Levis’ are usually with — and against — a cast that's very much fighting to make this team.
Levis isn’t. He’s going to make the team, of course.
But he’s still starting at the bottom, and I’m wondering if that has been an adjustment for him. Levis is accustomed to being the guy. He was roundly praised by those at Kentucky for his leadership, becoming a team captain basically as soon as he arrived in Lexington after transferring from Penn State.
“When you're the backup,” Levis tells me, “there's a certain way of going about yourself to still be a leader but not step on the toes of the guy that's got the job, which is Ryan, obviously.
“I'm just finding ways to do it the right way, just be someone in the locker room that can bring the team along and just do what's asked of me at the position — with a good attitude.”
Levis is polished in media settings. He says all the right things. He says, for instance, that he's still carrying himself as if he was the starter with the Titans.
In reality, though, Levis probably isn’t going to start in 2023 unless something happens to Tannehill. And maybe Willis, too.
Willis has noticeably improved since last season. He's also making NFL throws.
This preseason, Levis is competing with Willis for the Titans' No. 2 role. If he doesn’t get it, it doesn’t really matter. He’s got plenty of time. The Titans have the luxury of being able to be patient with Levis.
More so, Levis can be patient with himself.
And yet . . .
“I mean, I'm not being patient,” he says. “I'm coming in here to work every day and to compete. . . . The standard is the standard and you've got to hold yourself to it.”
More practices like Monday will help.
Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Gentry_Estes.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Will Levis already showing flashes as a Tennessee Titans football quarterback
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