Titans name Levis starting QB; Tannehill to be backup
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel announced Will Levis as the team's starting quarterback going forward, according to Ben Arthur of Fox Sports.
"We're gonna go with Will," Vrabel said. "We think that's the best opportunity for our football team right now and see where he's at. I think Ryan (Tannehill) will progress through here this week ... to be a backup for us and prepare as a starter."
Levis has started the last two games for the Titans as Tannehill has been recovering from an ankle injury he suffered in Week 7. The 24-year-old Levis is 1-1 in two starts, throwing for 500 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.
Tennessee's offense exploded in Levis' first start. The team racked up 375 yards of total offense against an Atlanta Falcons defense ranked in the top 10 in yards allowed per game. It was the second-highest yardage output from the Titans' offense this season.
Tannehill started the first six games, going 2-4 while throwing for 1,128 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions. The veteran signal-caller has been the starting quarterback for Tennessee since midway through the 2019 campaign.
The 35-year-old Tannehill signed a four-year, $118-million contract with the team in March 2020. He has a $36-million cap hit in 2023, according to Over the Cap. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Tennessee selected Levis with the 33rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was the starting quarterback for Kentucky his last two years in college, throwing for 5,232 yards and 43 touchdowns in 24 games.
The Titans will face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10.