NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Will Levis is no longer a possibility as the backup to Cam Ward or as a preseason trade chip, as he’s elected to have season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder. It’s tentatively scheduled for July 29.
Indications are he was advised to continue to manage the shoulder with rest and rehabilitation, considering surgery only if it didn't improve sufficiently.
He spent time with quarterback guru Jordan Palmer early in the offseason. Then he was a full participant in the Titans' offseason work, including their mandatory three-day minicamp. At open OTAs and minicamp, he appeared to throw normally and at full strength. [Unlocked]
“I haven’t been a backup in a while,” he said in late May, speaking to the media for the first time since the team drafted Ward. “I don’t plan on shifting my mindset regardless of what the situation is, so I’m just going to be ready to play quarterback whenever my name is called.”
The surgical repair is related to the injury Levis suffered last season, a grade 2 AC sprain on Sept. 30 in Miami when he ran on a third down, went airborne for the marker and landed badly. He'd thrown only four passes before Mason Rudolph stepped in for him.
Comment from the #Titans on Levis pic.twitter.com/9UbUvcO7ya
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) July 21, 2025
Levis rested it through the team’s week off and played the following game against Indianapolis, but then sat out three games as the team sought to let it settle down and change course.
The shoulder remained some degree of an issue. Then he took a vicious shot on Dec. 8 at Nissan Stadium when a sack by Josh Hines-Allen pounded the shoulder into the Nissan Stadium turf. Again, he played the week after that, then had two weeks off before returning for the season finale against the Texans.
Levis was not reachable for comment.
By deciding to have the repair now, he avoids the awkwardness of downshifting from starter to backup and ensures he’ll be ready for the 2026 offseason and his fourth NFL season, the last under his rookie contract, when the Titans will have a year with Ward and a better understanding of their QB situation. His trade value won’t have improved, however, with the untested shoulder unseen.
He also puts the team in a tough spot. I thought he was clearly the team’s best option as a backup. The Titans are left with Brandon Allen as the No. 2 quarterback right now, and Tim Boyle third.
The Titans report for training camp Tuesday and take the field for their first practice Wednesday.