Will Levis, winless Titans draw Dolphins in possible ‘Snoop’ spot start

Quarterback Will Levis’ most memorable moment of his brief NFL career occurred last season during a Monday night road game against the Miami Dolphins.

Levis will be seeking a repeat performance in the same setting on the same night of the week when the winless Tennessee Titans battle the Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Tennessee scored 15 points in 51 seconds last December to turn a 14-point deficit into a stunning 28-27 victory over the Dolphins. Levis, then a rookie, passed for a career-high 327 yards.

“It was a lot of fun,” Levis said of the comeback win. “But different team, different season for both of us. Any time you play on Monday night, the whole world is watching, and it gives a little bit of extra excitement, so we’ve got that. That was a good win for us, and we’re just hoping to go get another win down there at a point of the season where we really need one.”

The Titans (0-3) haven’t looked too stout this season while being outscored 78-48.

The Dolphins (1-2) have different issues after standout quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills. He is on injured reserve and the earliest he can return is Oct. 27 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Skylar Thompson started last week’s 24-3 road loss against the Seattle Seahawks and completed 13 of 19 passes for 107 yards and was sacked five times before exiting with a rib injury in the third quarter. Tim Boyle was 7 of 13 for 79 yards and sacked once as Miami finished with just 205 yards of total offense.

Thompson was again limited in practice Friday and Miami coach Mike McDaniel said Thompson’s rib injury is “pretty painful.”

The Dolphins appear to be deciding between starting Boyle and Tyler “Snoop” Huntley, who was just signed on Sept. 16.

Huntley is getting up to speed with McDaniel’s offense. McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier will be watching his practice performances closely.

“We targeted him for a reason,” McDaniel said Thursday of Huntley, who spent four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. “And it’s a player that we’re very familiar with from the opponent’s standpoint.”

The experience factor — Huntley has made 10 NFL starts, including one in the postseason — could have McDaniel leaning toward Huntley over Boyle.

“I have in my mind what I think, how it could play out,” McDaniel said. “However, it’s a little premature for a multitude of reasons. And the very last being the competitive advantage.”

Miami ranks last in the NFL with a scoring average of 11 points per game. It hasn’t scored a touchdown in its last seven quarters and has been outscored 55-13 during its two-game skid. Star wideout Tyreek Hill has just six catches for 64 yards and no scores in the two setbacks. He didn’t practice on Friday, but the Dolphins cited rest as the reason.

Hill said the Dolphins are ready for the spotlight showdown with the Titans no matter who starts at quarterback.

“Very confident. We have a heck of a coaching staff who’s able to put together a crazy gameplan,” Hill said Friday. “It’s going to be a crazy game Monday night.”

Hill began watching film of Huntley when he joined the team.

“I seen it. This dude can make every throw,” Hill said. “This dude is special with his legs. He’s a special talent, man.”

The Titans are 28th in scoring (16.0) and 29th in total offense (260.3 yards per game). Levis shares the NFL lead with eight individual turnovers (five interceptions, three lost fumbles). He has thrown four touchdown passes.

Veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins believes Levis will work through turnover issues.

“I wouldn’t want anyone else out there on the field the way he prepares and goes about his day,” Hopkins said. “I think he’s going to learn from his mistakes. He hasn’t even played a full season. It’s going to come with time.”

Levis is 3-9 as a starter entering Monday’s contest.

Tennessee will be without cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (groin) for at least four games after he was placed on injured reserve on Friday. He was hurt in last Sunday’s 30-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Standout defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (elbow) missed practice Friday for the second straight day.

For Miami, McDaniel said that left tackle Terron Armstead and cornerback Kendall Fuller both remain in concussion protocol. Linebacker David Long and cornerback Siran Neal missed Thursday’s practice with hamstring injuries but Siran returned on a limited basis on Friday.

–Field Level Media

Health concerns hit as Raiders, Browns eye improved QB play

When the Cleveland Browns go on the road to meet the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, a pair of starting quarterbacks return to their posts after Week 3 performances opened the door for doubt.

Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew was benched for the final drive in a 36-22 home loss to the Carolina Panthers after throwing an interception in the fourth quarter. Aidan O’Connell took over and orchestrated a late 13-play, 70-yard touchdown drive.

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is down three starting offensive linemen this week. Cleveland’s revamped offense is limping to Las Vegas. Watson absorbed eight sacks during a 21-15 loss to the visiting New York Giants last week.

While Watson came out of the game fine physically, although the rough afternoon could bring about trust issues.

At the outset Sunday, it’s Minshew and the Raiders (1-2) against Watson and the Browns (1-2). Who else takes the field is up in the air.

“There’s no issue. Gardner Minshew is the quarterback,” Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said this week.

Yet, it isn’t as if the Raiders are issue free. The Panthers handled the Raiders’ offensive and defensive lines in Week 3, with a frustrated Pierce saying afterward, when asked about the team’s effort: “… There were definitely some players that made business decisions.”

Top wide receiver Davante Adams (tied for the team lead with 18 receptions) was ruled out with a hamstring injury. The Raiders’ top defensive playmaker, pass rusher Maxx Crosby, is also out due to a left ankle injury that bothered him since Week 2.

The Raiders gave up 437 yards, including 306 passing, and allowed four touchdowns to a Carolina that was in the midst of a change from Bryce Young to Andy Dalton at quarterback. Crosby played well on a high ankle sprain, but his teammates failed to follow his lead. This week, they’ll need a new energizer to emerge.

“At 80 percent, (Crosby is) a lot better than any defensive end in the National Football League,” said Pierce.

Adams started the first three games and has 18 receptions for 209 yards and one touchdown. Rookie tight end Brock Bowers, the team’s co-leader in receptions, could become the primary target this week.

There is already a large target on Watson’s back.

With the offensive line in flux all around him, the Browns are on the road without Pro Bowl right guard Wyatt Teller (knee), starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) and right tackle Jack Conklin. Conklin was “close” to making his 2024 debut but had what coach Kevin Stefanski said was a “minor setback” with a hamstring injury.

Watson went 21 of 37 for 196 yards with two touchdowns in the loss to the Giants as the Browns finished with just 217 total yards. Watson’s eight sacks cost Cleveland 48 yards, while the Browns also lost two fumbles. He has been sacked an NFL-worst 16 times and pressured more than any quarterback in the league (42) this season.

“When you’re talking about protection, it’s everybody,” Stefanski said. “… Everybody has a job to do in order to keep the quarterback clean. So, I got to do my part (as coach). It’s no secret we can’t let him get hit that many times. That’s not good enough and that will get fixed.”

The Browns are 31st in the 32-team NFL in total offense at 248.0 yards per game and 30th in passing at 152.3 yards per game. They have scored just 16.7 points per contest.

On defense, Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett has been playing through foot, thigh and Achilles injuries, yet still has been good enough to record two sacks. forcing a fumble on both. Cleveland is 12th in total defense at 309.3 yards allowed per game. But Garrett said he will play this week and rest .

“He’s a warrior. He’s going to go out there and give it everything he has,” Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. “Anything he’s able to do, he’s going to go out there and do it and when he’s on the field for us, he provides a big boost.”

Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) will not play Sunday, missing his third consecutive game.

–Field Level Media