Who Should I Start? Desmond Ridder or Will Levis

Tuesday, August 26, 1:53 PM

The Cincinnati Bengals are releasing quarterback Desmond Ridder on Tuesday, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Ridder was brought in off the street in July to push Jake Browning for the QB2 spot behind starter Joe Burrow, but it didn't work out, and Ridder will once again become a free agent searching for a team. It's possible that the 25-year-old returns to Cincy's practice squad during the 2025 season if he doesn't latch on with another organization. Ridder was taken in the third round (74th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 out of Cincinnati, but he was turnover-prone and quickly wore out his welcome in his two seasons there before spending 2024 with the Raiders. In his lone season as the Falcons' starter in 2023, Ridder threw for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 picks in 15 games (13 starts).

Wednesday, July 23, 5:05 PM

The Tennessee Titans placed quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, ending his season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It was announced on Monday that Levis would undergo season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder on July 29. The 26-year-old has decided to have the surgery to ensure his long-term health based on medical opinions, and he should be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. The problem for Levis is that he didn't look good when given the starting job in 2024, and then the Titans selected Cam Ward with the first overall pick this April. If Ward handles himself well and stays healthy in his first NFL season, Levis will be returning in 2026 and strictly a backup without a chance to regain a starting gig. The surgery also confirms what we already knew: That Ward is the team's starter in 2025.