“WTH Is That”: Fans React as Will Levis Shares Photo of His Shoulder Before Surgery

Coming into this season, the tussle for the Tennessee Titans’ QB1 slot was supposed to be one of the more compelling position battles in the league. On one side, there was Will Levis, who showed flashes of promise during his sophomore campaign last year. And on the other side stood this year’s No. 1 draft pick, Cam Ward.

However, before training camp could even begin, this battle went off the table. And it’s all because of Levis’ shoulder.

The 26-year-old quarterback is officially out for the season after the Titans announced he will undergo surgery on his AC joint. It is to sort out a nagging injury dating back to Week 4 of the 2024 season. So the door has swung wide open for Ward to take over as the starting quarterback for the team with no real competition.

It was important for Levis to undergo the season-ending surgery due to its potential long-term effects. This is why even the Titans had no issue with it. “We support his decision to focus on his long-term health… We remain confident in his full recovery,” the club said in a statement.

But there’s no sugarcoating what this means for Levis and his career. Last year, he started 12 games, passed for 2,091 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He struggled with consistency but showed enough for the front office to at least give him another shot. This shoulder issue, which came back to haunt him during minicamp, has jeopardized his last chance to prove himself.

Originally, Levis had hoped rest and rehab would be enough. But after discomfort persisted, he sought additional medical opinions, eventually opting to go under the knife.

While fans were sad to see a talent like Levis missing out on perhaps the most crucial season of his career, they soon understood the severity of his injury when the QB shared a photo online while prepping for his medical procedure. In the selfie, a shocking bone-like bulge is seen sticking out of his collar area.

And the first reaction was predictable. “WTH is that?” asked a fan. “Wtf,” exclaimed another.

The shock of the visual was so intense for some fans that even they could sense the pain. “My shoulder hurt just looking at that,” wrote a user. “Yeah, maybe he needed the surgery,” concluded another fan.

Reactions from the fans were nothing but shock and pity because the image said more than any statement could. Levis’ injury wasn’t just a knot. It was also a glaring visual reminder of how brutal the NFL can be.

And most importantly, how tough NFL players are, because Levis injured himself in a game against the Dolphins last year, but he pushed through the pain and played. The quarterback even returned by Week 10 and showed real signs of growth with 960 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and just two picks in a four-game stretch.

But his momentum was short-lived. The Titans’ offense cratered again by Week 14 in a 10-6 loss to Jacksonville.

It is perhaps due to this never-say-die attitude and grit from Levis that Titans GM Mike Borgonzi backed the quarterback during the pre-draft pressers despite his inconsistent career. “He’s had some good moments… they’re continuing to develop,” Borgonzi said back then.

However, the latest development has now put a pause on the growth. And all eyes will now be on Ward because the pressure of delivering has gone a notch above with no Levis to back him up.