Status of Will Levis for Friday's final preseason game in doubt

Due to a minor injury, Will Levis sat out the Tennessee Titans’ preseason win against the Minnesota Vikings over the weekend. With just a few more days separating him from another preseason outing on Friday, his status remains in doubt.

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters on Tuesday that he isn’t sure if Levis will be ready to go for Tennessee’s matchup with the New England Patriots — the franchise’s final tuneup before the start of the 2023 regular season in September. Levis is currently listed as QB3 on the team’s unofficial depth chart behind starter Ryan Tannehill and backup Malik Willis.

“Well I hope — I don’t know what I expect, but I hope that (Levis) can (play on Friday), but I don’t know if he will or not,” Vrabel told the media.

Levis is dealing with what is being called a “lower-body injury”. It occurred during a joint practice with the Vikings last Thursday and has sidelined him ever since, although he appears hopeful that it won’t keep him off the field for much longer. Levis was spotted on Saturday with a wrap around his left thigh. He did not participate in Tuesday’s full-speed portion of practice.

“It’s nothing too serious, but I’m just gonna make sure I take the right steps to get back on the road to recovery,” Levis told reporters on Tuesday, according to AtoZ Sports Nashville. “That’s what I’m aiming for (to play on Friday). I don’t know any timeline but I’m just gonna take it one day at a time.”

The timing of the injury wasn’t ideal for Levis, who was playing some of his best football of the fall in the days leading up to the incident. He made his preseason debut two weeks ago against the Chicago Bears where he threw for 85 yards (9-14 passing) with no touchdowns and one interception.

Every Will Levis Drop Back From
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While those stats are admittedly nothing to compliment, it was an admirable first showing in the pros. Levis was being praised in press conferences the following week and was looking at extended reps against the Vikings this past weekend.

Instead, he’s now on a path to recovery — remaining heavily involved in team meetings and practices as the team prepares for New England on Friday — as his status is still up in the air.

“It is what it is,” Levis added. “I think the first couple of days that I had it and where I found out I wasn’t gonna play in Minnesota, I was definitely down. Coach Vrabs was kinda quick to know that I was upset and pick me up and be like keep your head up, you can’t do anything about it… Just listen to the trainers and do whatever you can as a teammate whenever you’re not able to play.”

The Titans and Patriots will kick off on Friday night at 8:15 p.m. EST on the NFL Network.