Will Levis reflects on ‘incredible’ 1st career NFL start

Will Levis made his 1st career NFL start one to remember.

The former Penn State and Kentucky quarterback was called into action on Sunday with Ryan Tannehill unavailable with an ankle injury. He was terrific, throwing for 238 yards and 4 touchdowns — 3 to DeAndre Hopkins — in the Tennessee Titans’ 28-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

“It’s incredible,” Levis told CBS Sports’ Amanda Guerra after the game. “Shoutout to the fans for coming out and supporting and shoutout to this team for embracing me and getting me past these last couple of weeks.”

"We've been saying we need to get [Hopkins] in the end zone… I said why not 3 times?" – Will Levis with @AmandaGuerraCBS after the @titans win pic.twitter.com/JlSUX21OvE

— NFL on CBS ? (@NFLonCBS) October 29, 2023

Levis, whose parents were among the 20-plus family members on hand at Nissan Stadium, found a big-time target in Hopkins, who had yet to find the end zone prior to Week 8 before bringing in touchdown catches of 16, 47, and 61 yards against the Falcons.

“We’ve been saying we need to get him in the end zone. I said why not 3 times?” he joked. “He’s been awesome, and again, so happy to be a part of this team.”

The Titans have a short turnaround before heading to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers on Thursday. Will it be Levis getting his 2nd straight start or will Tannehill return to the lineup?

#Titans Will Levis had over 20 family members here: pic.twitter.com/dGoe2TYIkW

— Kayla Anderson ✨ (@KaylaAndersonTV) October 29, 2023

Sydney Hunte

Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.