My Two Cents: Still Having Mixed Emotions About Titans QB Will Levis Playing on Sunday

I've seen enough to know that Will Levis is the quarterback of the future for the Tennessee Titans, and if he didn't play in these final two games, I would have been fine with that. But Mike Vrabel and Levis think there's a lot to gain from playing, so he will Sunday at Houston. Here's to hoping they're right.

NASHVILLE — When Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis went down with an ankle injury two weeks ago in a home game against Houston, I figured his rookie season was over.

And I was fine with that.

Levis got eight games in, but he proved everything to me that he's unquestionably the quarterback of the future here in Nashville. He's got the arm strength, the legs, the aptitude and the work ethic to be a star in this league, and he's going to win a lot of games here once the Titans build a better team around him.

I have seen enough.

Veteran Ryan Tannehill started last week's game against Seattle and, like all earlier attempts by the 35-year-old, it wasn't enough. Tennessee lost 20-17, and Tannehill passed for only 152 yards — and no touchdown passes.

Tannehill is 2-5 as a starter this season, and in those five losses, he didn't throw a single touchdown pass. Not one, which is mind-boggling. They only scored 67 points — 15.4 a game — in those losses.

So this, I figured, was the best way for the Titans to close out the season. They had already been eliminated from the playoffs, so there's really nothing to play for. I never vote for tanking during the regular season, but when it's basically over, losing the last few games for a better draft pick isn't all bad.

Especially for a Titans team desperate for star-level talent. A top-five pick would be wonderful, but that only comes with a 5-12 final record.

That means losses on Sunday at Houston, and then again next weekend in the home finale against Jacksonville.  I really didn't have a problem with Tannehill playing out the string and the the results fall where they may.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) is helped off of the field in overtime against the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Dec. 17 :: Andrew Nelles/USA TODAY Sports

But then Levis started feeling better after round-the-clock treatment, and he returned to practice this week. He felt better every day, so coach Mike Vrabel is putting him back out there when the Texans and Titans get together against for the second time in three weeks, this time in Houston at Noon CT on Sunday. 

"I mean, he's in line to start. So that's good,'' Vrabel said Friday. "Being able to get him back and continue to get this work and help us find a way to win a road game within the division, it's a good thing.''

Is it? I'll be honest, even on Sunday morning, I'm still very conflicted. 

I was 100 percent on the side of him not playing early in the week, but Vrabel and Levis both have been working hard to change my mind all week.

For Levis, it's simple. He's a football player, so if he can, he plays. He wants to be out there, desperately wants to ball. And he wants to win games, which runs counter to my Titans wish list these final three games since the playoff elimination.

“I just want to play ball,” Levis said. “I just want to go out there and win games and leave this season with a good taste in my mouth. (The ankle) feels good, and it’s coming along well. I’m doing everything I can to get it back. We’ll see how this week goes, and I’m taking it day by day.”

Vrabel was never going to put him in harm's way. Levis has to be able to move well enough to protect himself in the pocket to be able to play, and he was certainly trending in that direction in Friday's final practice before heading off to Houston. 

"We're not going to restrict these guys to playing outside of how they are wired to play. It's an instinctive game,'' Vrabel said. "There's sometimes the pocket breaks down if you're a quarterback and you have to be able to move and avoid people, protect the football. 

"And ultimately, we would like you to do the best that you could do to protect yourself, especially at that position. But there also is a responsibility that you have to try to help the team on the field and score a touchdown or convert on third down.''

Where Vrabel got me leaning back toward Levis playing — and it being a good idea — is that this is very much a good learning experience for the rookie. He's going to play in Houston every year going forward, and learning how to beat the Texans is important, especially at NRG Stadium. Getting the lay of the land and learning more about how the Texans like to play against him is all part of the future growth plan.

Levis is also a very proud and determined young quarterback, and he's never backing down from any challenges. He just lost a game to Houston two weeks ago — his injury came on the final drive — and he'd love another shot at them.

It's also a chance for us to see the first Levis vs. C.J. Stroud matchup. Both are rookies, and part of that AFC South quartet of promising young quarterback, along with Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence and Indianapolis' Anthony Richardson.

It's all about the future for Levis and the Titans right now, but Stroud and the Texans are still in the playoff hunt. They're 8-7, and so is Jacksonville and Indianapolis, though the Jaguars hold almost all of the tiebreakers.

So battles like this are big, and will be for the next several years. Maybe it is a good thing for Levis to experience all of that.

Stroud, who's out of Ohio State, was the No. 2 overall pick and the Titans loved him in the draft process. When there was some question about whether Houston was going to pull the trigger on Stroud at No. 2, the Titans were having serious talks with the Arizona Cardinals about moving up to No. 3 to get Stroud.

It never happened, of course, and the Texans made the wise choice of taking him. Levis this had his famous draft-night free fall, so the Titans did the same thing with Arizona on Day 2 to move up in the second round to get Levis.

Stroud, though, he's special. He's thrown for 3,631 yards this season, with 20 touchdown passes and just five interceptions.

Vrabel, who's an Ohio State guy himself, likes everything that Stroud brings to the table. 

"There's a calmness to him in the pocket,'' Vrabel said. "I think that he certainly believes in his arm, and when they've given him time there to wait things out, being able to put the ball in all different spots of the field and operate under center, operate in the gun and use his legs when he's had to, he's been good. 

"I thought he was good at Ohio State, and now he's good in the pros.''

Levis is looking forward to that first matchup, too. Stroud didn't play two weeks ago because of a concussion. Veteran Case Keenum beat the Titans in overtime instead. 

“I’d love to compete with him,” Levis said of Stroud. “He’s a heck of a player. I never got to compete against him in college. Watching him from afar and what he’s been able to do, it’s been really impressive.

"Hopefully, he’s getting better here soon. It’d be a lot of fun to compete against him.”

Hopefully Levis is better, too. I don't want him out there if he's not 100 percent. If he's not out there at all, I wouldn't cry. 

But the Titans think there's value in having him out there. I guess we'll see. I'm not being wishy-washy, I'm really not. It's just not my call. Maybe the Titans know what they're doing.

We'll just have to wait and see, right?

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