Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis has not looked at his social media accounts for the past couple of weeks, and he spent part of Wednesday switching phone numbers to stop fans from deluging him with text messages sharing their thoughts on his play.
“I just think that’s the healthiest way to go about it, and I don’t want to or care to see anything that people say about me,” Levis said. “And I’m just going to keep chugging along regardless of what they say. So yeah, but it sucks that the world is the way that it is, and I’m looking forward to having some privacy.”
With the Titans off to an 0-2 start after a pair of 24-7 losses — to the host Chicago Bears in the opener at Soldier Field and to the visiting New York Jets this past Sunday at Nissan Stadium — the second-year quarterback with 11 NFL starts has been the easy target on Tennessee’s roster for critics to pinpoint.
Tennessee has the NFL’s worst turnover margin at minus-4, largely thanks to Levis turning it over five times in the span of three quarters over two games. The Green Bay Packers (1-1) come to Nashville on Sunday with a defense that boasts a league-leading six takeaways.
Levis talked after his latest loss about needing to rewire his brain. When he was asked Wednesday if a sports psychologist might be an option, Levis said maybe down the road. He likes where he is right now and said he knows exactly what he needs to correct.
That involves knowing where the Titans are on the field, the score and time on the clock, and when to be “uber careful” protecting the ball. Processing all that more quickly is important, too, especially during the week when watching video to prepare as Levis works to make the smart play.
“I’m just trying to be conscious every day, just think of those situations and get better in them,” Levis said.
Bo Nix (Denver Broncos) and Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts) have four interceptions apiece in the early portion of the season, but those are the only two quarterbacks who have been picked off more than Levis, whose three interceptions are tied with five other players. One of those was benched Monday, when the Carolina Panthers said they would make a switch in their starting role from Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft.
Levis also has both of the fumbles (both lost) by the Titans. Only the Cincinnati Bengals have more as a team with three, and Tennessee is tied with the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders and Minnesota Vikings.
First-year head coach Brian Callahan was caught by TV cameras asking Levis what he was thinking with a profanity included after his fumble against the Jets. The Titans were up 7-0 and in field-goal range when Levis went horizontal for a second straight game and tried shoveling the ball backward to Tyjae Spears.
The previous time Levis did that, the ball was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by the Bears.
Callahan said Wednesday that he sees improvement from the opener, when all three of Levis’ turnovers came in the fourth quarter, to last weekend, when the Titans had the ball but couldn’t score to try and force overtime late against the Jets.
The Titans coach, who was offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals the past five seasons, said everyone has to improve — and that teams are rewarded quickly when they do.
“That’s the nature of the NFL, especially in the early part of the season, is how quickly you can improve your team and what you do well,” Callahan said. “I’m really pleased with how he played for the most part, and that didn’t change after we watched the tape.”