NASHVILLE, Tenn. — This season, Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis has faced his fair share of challenges on the field, enduring significant hits as he navigates his second year in the NFL. Having recently started his 17th game, Levis is still in the process of adapting to a new offensive scheme, which adds to the intensity of his learning experience.

Levis celebrated his first win of the season, despite being sacked eight times throughout the game. Titans’ first-year head coach Brian Callahan has noted a positive shift in Levis’s approach to the game, emphasizing the importance of being more strategic rather than hunting for spectacular plays. According to Callahan, the focus is on playing each down as it comes, suggesting that Levis should seize opportunities to be aggressive when the situation allows.

In the last three games, Levis has achieved a commendable passer rating of 109.3. His performance includes 53 completions on 78 attempts for a total of 748 yards, along with five touchdown passes and two interceptions. Only a handful of quarterbacks, including Derek Carr and Tua Tagovailoa, have demonstrated a better passer rating during this stretch.

As Levis continues to establish his place within the franchise, he is on track to become only the third quarterback in team history to start at least nine games in each of his first two seasons. He joins the ranks of Vince Young and Marcus Mariota, both high draft picks who did not receive a second contract with the Titans. Levis expressed his increasing comfort with Callahan’s system, noting the progression he believes the team has made since the outset of the season.

Currently, Levis has a 5-12 record as a starter, with a 2-6 mark under Callahan. His first win came on September 30, although he suffered an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder during that game. Following a bye week, he attempted to return to play but later revealed that his shoulder injury was a factor in a late-game interception against Indianapolis. Consequently, he missed three additional games to recover.

Now, keeping Levis protected is a major priority so he can effectively execute the offensive plan. His experience of being sacked eight times during last week’s narrow victory over the Houston Texans marks the second occasion in his career where he has encountered this level of pressure. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, only 52 quarterbacks have been sacked at least eight times in multiple games, with Levis boasting one of the higher passer ratings among them. Specifically, his rating of 105.4 stands out compared to the average of 68.2 for other quarterbacks in similar situations.

Levis is currently averaging 4.37 sacks per game. Among those sacked frequently, Chicago rookie Caleb Williams is taking an average of four sacks, while Houston’s C.J. Stroud and Seattle’s Geno Smith are being dropped an average of 3.25 and 3.36 times per game, respectively. The Titans are set to face the Washington Commanders this Sunday, who rank among the top teams in the league for sacking quarterbacks, with 30 sacks prior to Week 13.

Evaluating Levis’s progress, offensive coordinator Nick Holz acknowledged improvements and identified areas for growth. He has noted that Levis occasionally needs to make decisions to throw the ball away or utilize his athleticism more effectively, as some of last week’s sacks resulted from him scrambling in the pocket. Nonetheless, Holz asserts that Levis has not allowed the frequency of hits to shake his confidence.

“It’s a continual growth process,” Holz stated, highlighting the learning curve Levis is experiencing.