It is the JR Sport Brief Show here with you coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network. Dallas Cowboys owner talks, says crazy things. Mike Brown speaks, says crazy things.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans, kind of quiet until today. We learn that Will Levis is going to be out for the entire season due to that shoulder issue he suffered from last year. Looks like this clears a way for Cam Ward to ultimately be the starter. You got Brian Callahan who's coming through in his second year. You have a new GM.
So it looks like the Tennessee Titans are in a good spot to move forward. To talk about the Titans, what is taking place, what we can expect between now and the start of the season. Joining us right now is someone who covers all things Tennessee sports for the Associated Press. We're here with Teresa Walker. Teresa, how are you?
Well, I'm doing good. The news about Will Levis came a little bit by surprise this morning because it was just barely a month ago that he was talking about how he was looking forward to training camp and how he felt so much better with his second full-off season in Brian Callahan's offense and that he was looking forward to showing that he can make the right decisions and throw the ball where it needs to go. And then it's like, whoops, now we get the statement this morning that he consulted with doctors and his representatives. This was a Will Levis choice. He hurt the shoulder, AC joint in his right shoulder, his throwing shoulder, last year diving for first down against Miami.
And then they had a bye. He came back and he said that, yes, the shoulder bothered him in a three-point loss to the Colts. He had a late interception. He had a lot of interceptions last year. He had 26 total lost turnovers, interceptions, and fumbles.
But that's the thing. there hadn't been any mention of it through the offseason he was at the offseason program with the titans plenty of time to take care of this and that's the thing that kind of was surprising cam ward has been the number one pick overall let's put it this way brian callahan is saying we're rotating there's a quarterback competition all signs pointed to cam ward starting september 7th when they opened the season at denver and the rest of the competition seemed to just be for backup. And Will Levis seemed to be the person best positioned to do that. Why? Because the Titans brought in Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle.
And let's face it, I mean, Will Levis, he was the 33rd pick overall. He's going into his third year. And then for this, this was a surprise Teresa do you think he saw and this could be bad I mean not playing football or being away from the team seems like a bad idea but do you think he ultimately saw the writing on the wall and is like screw this I might as well start thinking about free agency well that's the thing he's still on his rookie deal so they have him under contract through next year and there was a lot of folks saying well maybe they trade you know trade him at the end of the preseason maybe a team like New Orleans decides they want somebody with starting experience. And, you know, he does have that, even though his record isn't that great as a starting quarterback. But, you know, that's the thing.
It's, you know, if he's trying to get a jump on free agency, it's a 17-game NFL season these days. You're going to pretty much have a chance to play at some point, even if Cam Ward becomes, you know, whatever the Titans absolutely hope in their biggest and wildest dreams and hopes. But the challenge is usually you see that backup quarterback. right so opportunity especially for this franchise has been around for for several seasons i mean i'm trying to think of a season where they didn't play at least a second or maybe even a third quarterback and i'm coming up with a problem with that uh so it's he would have had a chance to play and how do you make your best case playing in an offense that you're a bit more comfortable with they did go out and hope they think hopefully fix the in the offensive line in front of the quarterback and and that's the thing if you got a better line you've got some better pieces around you you're in position to show that you can be better his best chance seemed to be here with this offense and and that's the thing guys there's seven weeks before the season opens they report for camp tomorrow maybe you know i i have to wonder what was you know what was the idea of rest and rehabilitation you know why was that not a chance here you know because you could start the season on the pup list and give yourself time to be ready this season and instead it's have surgery down for the season and Teresa Walker is joining us covers all things Tennessee Titans for the Associated Press I guess on the other end if we got to take a look at things from Cam Ward's perspective we hear more about the other quarterbacks selected in the draft than Cam Ward who was selected number one overall what's the consensus I think the fact that things have been kind of quiet bodes well for him in his development, no? Oh, absolutely, because he hasn't been quiet here.
I mean, you know, he's been, you know, when they were on the field in the offseason program, he's, you know, trash talking back and forth with three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffrey Simmons. You know, he's had rookies in at 5 in the morning, you know, making sure they were all on the same page for what was going to be practiced that day. They all watched every game from last season you know that he been trying to make sure that he can do everything he can to one lead and to make sure that the rookies are as prepared and ready for what to be on the same page with him as possible. And now he goes into the training camp.
Well, Levis isn't here. And, you know, so it's almost it might end up being a help that they're not splitting up reps between four quarterbacks. You know, we get we get the GM and the coach tomorrow when they report. I'm really curious, you know, do they try to add another quarterback or just go with these three? The benefit is Cam Ward.
He gets to keep working. And Callahan did a thing in the offseason as well. He mixed up the locker room. Calvin Ridley has been beside Cam Ward.
So they've been building camaraderie, chemistry. He's been working to do that with everybody on the offensive side of the ball. And I really – I cannot wait to see what this young man can do because on the practice field, you can see snippets of why the Titans fell in love with him and why they took him at number one.
Well, Teresa, we know the reason why he's on the team is because the Titans, they won three games last year. Over the span of two years, they now have a new GM. They have a coach who's now in his second year. And now you have, hopefully, what is the franchise QB. What is the expectation of what this team is going to look like?
What is going to be the calling card? Has Brian Callahan kind of shared his philosophy on that yet?
Well, there's been talk about trying to be a, you know, a fast strike offense, you know, get that ball down the field. We certainly didn't see it last year. And they brought in Van Jefferson, Tyler Lockett, along with a bunch of day three draft picks to give Cam Ward some help and other targets to rev up this offense. But, you know, none of it works unless you can protect the quarterback and give him a couple extra seconds.
So, you know, they brought in Dan Moore from Pittsburgh at left tackle. They brought in Kevin Zeitler from Detroit at right guard. They moved J.C. Latham from left tackle to right tackle, their first-round pick from last year.
So, you know, they spent a ton of money last year. This year, you know, they're trying to fill the holes, and they still have a lot. but you know this offense if it comes anywhere close they should be able to get the ball down the field cam lord has shown he has an arm that can throw the ball and throw it down the field so if they can do that you know they've got a posse kind of it running back led by tony pollard uh but here's the thing they were so bad last year there's there's very little room to go but up Now that's factual. The team has had so much change Is Amy Adams just going to let this one breathe a little bit She said that Carthon was the guy and then he wasn the guy She got rid of one of the best coaches in the league He's now up in New England with Vrabel. Is Callahan going to get some rope here?
That's a question we all have here locally because that's the thing. She has been a person who has traditionally said and done for several years, You know, I like to hire people and let them do their jobs and not metal. But, you know, she had only been the majority owner, controlling owner for a few months in 2015 when she fired Ken Wisenhut. An easy decision. He was three and 20 at that point.
But, you know, firing Mike Vrabel, yeah, there are a lot of questions because it seemed to be a reaction to a season lost with so many injuries. And then you fire Ryan Carthon after praising him. And guess what? Do any of us think that they spent all that money they spent in free agency under Ryan Carthon without her knowledge, her signing off?
So it's like, yeah, if she's not patient, they open a new stadium in 27.
So two years from now. It's going up. It looks great. But that's the thing. If she makes any more changes, it's going to be tough to keep selling tickets for a product that's going to hit that stadium in 2027.
Without a shadow of a doubt. Teresa, to start wrapping things up, you said there's nowhere they can go but up in three games last year. What would be progress for a good season? Just Cam Ward being in competition for Rookie of the Year?
Well, I think that, but let me, let's face it, it's the NFL. We saw Jaden Daniels take Washington to the playoffs last year in the AFC South. C.J. Stroud took Houston from last to first in his rookie year.
So, I mean, it's the NFL. But, you know, they should at least be able to double their win total and get to six. They lost six games by eight points or less last season.
So if they can get even three of those, they're at six wins, which is a huge step in the other direction. Yeah, most certainly.
Well, I can't wait to see Cam Ward on the field. We got guys like Shadour who capture a lot of the headlines, but I think it's a great thing that Cam Ward is working. Can't wait to see what the results start bearing in September. We'll see. Teresa, thank you so much for the time.
Please tell everybody where they can keep up with you and all your work with the AP.
Well, you can download our app, AP News. It's free, and you can also follow me on X and Blue Sky at Teresa M. Walker. Hey, Teresa, you're going to have plenty to keep up with.
So thank you for the time. We'll catch you down the line, okay? My pleasure. Thank you.
