After failing to connect on a deep ball in the first quarter of the Week 13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, things got a little hot on the sideline between Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Levis dialed up a deep ball down the sideline to the veteran wideout, but the pass was far too long for Hopkins. The rookie signal-caller was clearly upset after the play and the two exchanged words on the sideline.
When asked about the situation after the game, Levis said it was a case of miscommunication with Hopkins but admitted he needs to throw a better ball.
“It was just a little miscommunication, I thought he was doing one thing and he ended up doing the other,” Levis said. “I still got to give him a better ball and sort it out. Just making sure we are on the same page going forward.”
Will Levis seems to be frustrated with Deandre Hopkins…
A bit of a heated back and forth. pic.twitter.com/tZZoDCLpsl
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 3, 2023
Levis noted that he and Hopkins hold each other to a high standard and the rookie said he isn’t afraid to get on anyone if he thinks it’ll help the team.
“We hold each other to a high standard,” Levis said. “I allow him to express his feelings towards me and vice versa. I’m just getting more comfortable with my relationship with him and everyone else on the team. I’m just trying to get us in a spot to win games and if that means getting on somebody that might be how it is. Just trying to find a way to make the relationship with the person make sense to get the best outcome and that might be different from one guy to the other.”
Hopkins echoed Levis’ sentiments in terms of miscommunication and said he loves the passion the rookie signal-caller has and doesn’t want him to change in that regard.
“That’s going to happen,” Hopkins said, according to Paul Kuharsky. “He thought I was doing something and I thought he was wanting me to do something else, and obviously we didn’t accomplish what we wanted to accomplish. But I love his passion, love the way he plays the game. I wouldn’t tell him to be or do anything different. Be himself.”
Levis and Hopkins ended up connecting five times for 75 yards, with one of those receptions resulting in a touchdown. Based on that and their postgame comments, it would appear things are just fine between the two.
