Will Levis handed surprise route back to the NFL after being cut in wake of sex tape and on-field humiliation... but he'll have to beat another QB to get it

Will Levis has been handed an NFL lifeline by the New York Jets - but he has another quarterback standing between him and a contract. 

Levis, 27, was released by the Tennessee Titans last week, ending a turbulent spell in Nashville after he slid out of the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft and was picked 33rd overall.

The former Kentucky quarterback became Titans starter halfway through his rookie season, then became starter in 2024, but missed the entire 2025 season after shoulder surgery as the franchise moved on by drafting Cam Ward No.1 overall.

He has faced mockery online for some of his on-field play and lack of ball security, as well as facing turbulence in his personal life after splitting from ex-girlfriend Gia Duddy in his rookie year, after the pair had an intimate tape leaked by hackers earlier in their relationship.  

Levis entered this year's training camp battling with Mitch Trubisky for the backup job but did not make the 53-man roster and has since cleared waivers without being picked up.

However, The Athletic reports he was brought to the New York Jets facility on Thursday for a workout with a view to being signed to their practice squad.

Levis and UFL MVP Jack Plummer both worked out for the Jets, competing for the same spot after the team settled on Cade Klubnik as backup quarterback behind Geno Smith.

Plummer went undrafted out of Louisville in 2024 and spent a year on the Carolina Panthers practice squad before impressing in the UFL for the Orlando Storm this year to alert NFL teams.

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn shed light on their quarterback situation earlier this week. Klubnik, a fourth-round draft pick from Clemson this offseason, beat out Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook for the backup job. 

'He's our backup quarterback. He's our backup quarterback, and he'll do a good job,' Glenn stated.

'There's just a confidence in how he operates and what he's done in practice, what he's done in the games. I don't think anybody ever said there weren't going to be hiccups. I mean, he's a rookie, but he's always learning, but he's a very intelligent guy. 

'Listen, we're proud that we have him and he's improved over the course of training camp and he's going to continue to improve. 

'That room throughout training camp was a room that we kept a close eye on just to see how those guys operated and man, Cade has done a really good job for us.'

The Jets intended to try and bring Cook back to the practice squad but he was picked up by the Miami Dolphins on waivers, with Glenn confirming he was looking at new options alongside general manager Darren Mougey. 

'Yeah, we're looking to add good players, and if there's another guy out there that we feel like can help this team, me and Moug will have a conversation to see how that goes,' Glenn said. 

'I would think that's a practice squad guy,' he clarified. He was then asked if they considered adding another veteran quarterback. 

'Yeah, we had a number of conversations about a number of people. But the thing is all those conversations, I want to make sure I keep that between me and Moug, and that's our process anyways and I think I've always said that. Anybody that can come and help this team, we'll have conversations about and see how it fits,' Glenn said.