Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan isn't handing Cam Ward the starting quarterback gig, insisting on a competition, but everyone knows the score. The No. 1 overall pick is the starter, and Will Levis is the backup.
After struggling through 21 starts over his first two years, Levis admitted losing his job isn't fun.
"Anyone who's ever been in my situation would agree that it sucks," Levis said on Wednesday, via Main Street Nashville. "I'm just trying to do the best I can to not let it affect me and just being the same dude every day in the building and being there for the guys however I can and just trying to get better every day."
Levis boasts a big arm, but also spotty accuracy, coupled with boneheaded decisions at times, which led the Titans to look elsewhere for their new starting quarterback. In two years, he completed 61% of his passes for 3,899 yards, with 21 touchdowns to 16 interceptions.
Levis spent his offseason improving his mechanics with quarterback guru Jordan Palmer in hopes of improving his efficiency.
"It was a lot of just relearning my stroke, relearning my body and trying to get back to the basics of that. I feel like it's really paid off," he said. "I've been feeling good the last few weeks."
Even with Ward on the path to the starting gig, Levis said he's still approaching every day as if he's the starter.
"I haven't been a backup in a while, but I don't plan on shifting my mindset, regardless of what the situation is," he said. "I'm just going to be ready to play quarterback whenever my name is called."
Levis currently sits in line for the backup gig behind Ward, with veterans Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle rounding out the QB room. If Levis flashes improvements in training camp and the preseason, he could be a candidate for a trade to a club that might need competition -- or Tennessee could hang on to him in case disaster strikes Ward.
