Will Levis will miss 2025 season with shoulder injury

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) throws the football against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

A new era has arrived for the Tennessee Titans with No. 1 pick Cam Ward set to become the new QB1 in Nashville. His importance increased on Monday when the AFC South franchise lost its expected backup quarterback for the season.

Former Kentucky quarterback Will Levis has selected to have surgery on his right shoulder. That procedure will take place next week.

#Titans QB Will Levis will undergo surgery on his throwing shoulder, sources say, ending his 2025 season. Surgery is July 29.

Levis has elected to have the procedure to ensure long-term health, based on medical opinions, one that should help him be ready for the 2026 season. pic.twitter.com/9ZGWqeGGt5
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 21, 2025

The Titans are “merely supporting” this decision by the third-year quarterback. Will Levis will not be with the team when players report to training camp on Tuesday. Levis will enter the final season of his four-year contract in 2026 coming off an injury.

“After consulting with doctors and his representatives, Will Levis has decided to undergo shoulder surgery that will sideline him for the entire 2025 season. We support his decision to focus on his long-term health,” the Titans said in a release. “He approached the offseason with professionalism and showed clear growth as a leader. We remain confident in his full recovery.”

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Will Levis spent two seasons at Kentucky after beginning his career at Penn State. The Northeast native started 24 games over two seasons for the Wildcats and accumulated 5,233 passing yards and 54 total touchdowns. After an outstanding debut season in 2021, Levis battled through injuries in 2022. That led to a draft night fall in Kansas City where Levis went from top-10 pick buzz to falling out of the first round. The Tennessee Titans took the quarterback with second pick in the second round.

Levis, 26, started nine games as a rookie in 2023 after beginning the season as a backup. The young quarterback completed just 58.4 percent of his passes but averaged over seven yards per attempt showing the ability to drive the football vertically. Levis entered year two with a new coaching staff in Tennessee as the clear starting quarterback under new head coach and play-caller Brian Callahan. Unfortunately, the season was a disaster as Levis took 41 sacks, lost six fumbles, and threw 12 interceptions. The second-year player was ultimately benched.

Will Levis was expected to compete with Cam Ward in training camp but that will not happen now. The quarterback will sit out the season as the Titans transition to a new quarterback in 2025.