Will Levis has not looked at his social media for the past couple of weeks, and the Tennessee Titans quarterback spent part of Wednesday switching phone numbers to stop fans from deluging his cell with texts 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, the second-year quarterback with 11 NFL starts has been the easy target for critics.
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 of two games. Green Bay (1-1) comes in Sunday with a defense leading the league with six takeaways.
Levis talked after his latest loss about needing to rewire his brain. Asked Wednesday if a sports psychologist might be an option, Levis said maybe down the road. He likes where he is right now and knows exactly what he needs to correct.
That involves knowing where the Titans are on the field, the score and time on the clock along with when to be “uber careful” protecting the ball. Processing all that more quickly too, especially during the week when watching film as Levis works to make the smart play.
"I’m just trying to be consciously every day, just think of those situations and get better in them,” Levis said.
Only Bo Nix in Denver and the Colts’ Anthony Richardson have more interceptions with four apiece than Levis, who currently is tied with five other NFL quarterbacks with three interceptions. Carolina benched 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young on Monday.
Levis also has both of the Titans' fumbles. Only Cincinnati has more as a team with three, and Tennessee is tied with Arizona, Minnesota and the Raiders with two.
First-year coach Brian Callahan was caught by TV cameras asking Levis what he was thinking with a profanity included on last week's fumble. The Titans were in field-goal range up 7-0 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 picked off and returned for a pick-6 in the season-opening loss to the Bears.
Callahan said Wednesday that he sees improvement from the opener when all three of Levis' turnovers in that loss in Chicago came in the fourth quarter to Week 2 when the Titans had the ball and couldn't score to try and force overtime late in another 24-17 loss to the Jets.
The Titans coach said everyone has to improve, and 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.”
Injury update
The Titans gave two-time Pro Bowl DL Jeffery Simmons and CB L'Jarius Sneed practice off for rest Wednesday. RB Tyjae Spears (ankle) also did not practice, but is expected to be available Sunday.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Teresa M. Walker, The Associated Press
