‘Hard to imagine’ Will Levis stays with Titans after surgery decision

The next time Will Levis takes a snap in an NFL game, he may be in a different uniform.

Levis elected to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery on Monday, which clarified the future of his 2025-26 campaign and opened the door to what’s next for the former second-round pick.

“What it means is pretty simple, Cam Ward is going to be the starting quarterback, as he was going to be the starting quarterback anyway,” NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday. “This is more about Will Levis, his backup quarterback, and his decision after consulting with, from what I understand is, several medical professionals.”

Levis’ future in Tennessee has been murky following two seasons of shaky play, and the Titans moving in a different direction in April when they selected Ward No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Now, the signs point toward the idea that the former Kentucky quarterback has thrown his last pass with the team.

“It sounds like [Levis’ shoulder] just never felt quite right, and the fact that he couldn’t get it to where he was throwing pain-free,” Rapoport said. “He is out for 2025 — 2026, he will likely be at full strength, it’s just hard to imagine [Levis] being with the Titans at that point … fascinating decision to leave Cam Ward all alone.”

Levis suffered his shoulder injury last season after taking a hard fall in Week 4. 

While he went on to play in eight more games after the injury, go through rehab and participate in spring practices, the discomfort lingered.

The 26-year-old Levis, who was selected 33rd overall in the 2023 draft, was still expected to, at least, apply some pressure on Ward for the starting spot.

With the decision to undergo season-ending surgery, Levis will be looking to return fully in 2026 and will likely be looking for a QB role elsewhere.

Levis showed some flashes in his rookie season, throwing for eight touchdowns and four interceptions while rushing for a score in nine appearances.

He will have one year left on his contract heading into next season, but at just over $1 million it will not be difficult for the two sides to move in different directions.

In his sophomore season, he threw just 13 touchdowns and tossed 12 interceptions across 12 games. Four of those touchdowns and six interceptions came in his time before the shoulder injury.