QB Will Levis and the Titans struggling to synch up new passing attack

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Will Levis remains as confident as ever and insists his comfort level in his second offense in as many NFL seasons is so good he knows what he's being asked to do.

The Tennessee Titans quarterback also understands the results aren't close to what anyone wants.

Not only are the Titans off to a 1-4 start, they rank 31st in passing yards per game. That's worse than each of the past two seasons under former coach Mike Vrabel when Tennessee was 30th in 2022 and 29th in 2023.

The only thing Levis would like to add? The quarterback said Wednesday he'd like to throw more deep passes, which he feels is among his strengths. His longest completion this season was a 40-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley in a loss to the Jets in Week 2.

"We’re playing within the offense still, and I’m going to keep trusting what I’m seeing and making the throws and plays that I feel are appropriate,” Levis said.

First-year coach Brian Callahan also is in his first season calling plays in the NFL, and he said it's a process with now five games with Levis.

“We learn as we’re going and we’re building as we go and there’s things that I’m discovering and things that I like and things that we’ll do more of as we keep moving,” Callahan said. "So it’s a process. It’s not an immediate thing.”

Based on last week's numbers alone, it's a bumpy work in progress. Levis threw for a career-worst 95 yards in a game he both started and finished. The Titans lost 20-17 to Indianapolis and a defense that came in among the NFL's worst defending the pass.

Next up is a two-game road swing starting Sunday at Buffalo (4-2).

The 33rd pick overall in 2023 out of Kentucky hasn't won a game since Dec. 11 last season at Miami. His five TD passes this season are three fewer than in nine starts as a rookie. Levis also has an NFL-worst seven interceptions — three more than last season.

Levis ranks 31st among starting NFL quarterbacks with a 70.7 passer rating and 30th with 699 yards passing. He missed three quarters of Tennessee's lone win in Miami, replaced by backup Mason Rudolph in the only game the Titans scored more than 17 points this season.

Callahan has insisted that the Titans, who were among the NFL's biggest spenders in the offseason, are committed to developing Levis.

Passing requires coordination among all 11 players on the field from the line blocking, receivers, running backs and tight ends running routes at the right depths and then the quarterback timing the throw just right.

Callahan said the Titans' problem right now is simple execution.

“It’s certainly something that we’ve spent a lot of time and effort on as of late, trying to make sure we continue to refine it and get our timing down so we can have more success because we need to be better in the passing game,” Callahan said.

The Titans placed the safety on the reserve/non-football injury list Oct. 12, a day after declaring him out for the loss to the Colts with an injured hip. Callahan was asked Wednesday how Adams, who signed a one-year deal just before training camp, could be on that list during the season.

“Some things we’re working through that are still kind of ongoing, so I’ll let that one be for now,” Callahan said.

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Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan calls a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) and Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) shake hands following an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, was found dead after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, local officials said.

Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood of Argentina's capital, resulting in “extremely serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death on the spot, the statement said.

Pablo Policicchio, the spokesperson for the Security Ministry of Buenos Aires municipality, said in a statement to The Associated Press that Payne “had thrown himself from the balcony of his room.” He said police were dispatched to the hotel in response to an emergency call about an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.” Arriving police heard a thud and found Payne's body in the hotel courtyard, Policicchio said.

Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, said on Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel that authorities were investigating the circumstances of his death and conducting an autopsy. He declined to answer further questions about the incident, including whether Payne jumped from the balcony or fell by accident.

Payne had been vocal about struggling with alcoholism, posting a video in July 2023 to his YouTube channel where he said he had been sober for six months after receiving treatment.

Dozens of people were gathered Wednesday evening at the cordoned-off street outside the hotel where Payne died. Many were recording videos on their cellphones. Police stood guard as a forensic investigator exited the hotel.

Payne was one of five band members of One Direction, which formed in 2010 when they each auditioned for the British singing competition series “The X Factor.” After each singer failed to make it through the competition as solo acts, Simon Cowell and his fellow judges combined Payne, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson into what would become one of the most successful boy bands.

The band became known for their pop sound and romantic hits like “What Makes You Beautiful.” They had six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts by the time they disbanded in 2016. They had a loyal fan base, many of whom were teen girls, who became known as “Directioners.” Once the group disbanded, Payne pursued a solo career, putting out the album “LP1” in 2019. His last release was a single called “Teardrops,” in March.

Payne had a 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, with his former girlfriend, the musician Cheryl who was known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with Girls Aloud. She was an “X Factor” judge during One Direction's season. He is also survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola. Representatives for Payne did not immediately return emails and calls.

Huamani reported from Los Angeles.

FILE - Liam Payne arrives for the premiere of "The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader," at the Odeon Leicester Square, in London, Nov. 30, 2010. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

FILE - One Direction's Zayn Malik, from left, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles pictured during an interview on Capital Breakfast with Dave Berry and Lisa Snowdon, in their studios in Leicester Square, in London, on Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. (Yui Mok/PA via AP, File)

FILE - One Direction's Liam Payne, from left, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles pose backstage at the Capital FM Summertime Ball held at Wembley Stadium, in London, on June 6, 2015. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP, File)

FILE - Louis Tomlinson, from left, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Liam Payne arrive for the World Premiere of "One Direction: This Is Us," at the Empire Leicester Square, in London, Aug. 20, 2013. (Ian West/PA via AP, File)

FILE - Liam Payne performs onstage during day one of Capital's Jingle Bell Ball with Coca-Cola at London's O2 Arena, on Dec. 8, 2018. (Ian West/PA via AP, File)

A forensic investigator exits the hotel where English musician Liam Payne, a former member of the band One Direction, was found dead after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Police cordon off a hotel where English musician Liam Payne, a former member of the band One Direction, was found dead after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

FILE - One Direction members, from left, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Liam Payne perform on NBC's "Today" show, Nov. 13, 2012 in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Singer Liam Payne poses for photographers upon arrival at the Global Gift Gala in London, March 7, 2019. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Liam Payne, of musical group One Direction, performs at Nickelodeon's 25th annual Kids' Choice Awards, March 31, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

Police stand guard outside a hotel where Liam Payne, a former member of the band One Direction, was found dead after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Police gather outside a hotel where Liam Payne, a former member of the band One Direction, was found dead after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

FILE - Liam Payne poses for photographers upon arrival at the British Fashion Awards in London, Dec. 5, 2022. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Liam Payne poses for photographers upon arriving at the premiere of the film 'All of Those Voices' in London, March 16, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - One Direction's Liam Payne, second from right, poses for a photo with fellow band members Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Liam Tomlinson at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in London, Sept. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Jonathan Short, File)

FILE - Liam Payne of One Direction performs during the Honda Civic Tour at Qualcomm Stadium on Thursday, July 9, 2015, in San Diego, Calif. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP, File)