Titans Shake Things Up by Benchng QB Will Levis and Starting Mason Rudolph Against Colts

The Tennessee Titans have made a bold decision as they head into the final stretch of the 2023 season, opting to bench their second-year quarterback Will Levis in favor of veteran Mason Rudolph for their upcoming matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. This move, confirmed by head coach Brian Callahan on Wednesday, marks a significant shift for the Titans’ offense and has sparked plenty of discussion around the future of their quarterback situation.

The decision to start Rudolph comes after Levis struggled in recent games, most notably in the Titans’ loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. Despite showing flashes of potential with his big arm and a few highlight plays earlier in the season, Levis has struggled with consistency, particularly in terms of turnovers. This has been a growing issue for the young quarterback, who has thrown 12 interceptions and 12 touchdown passes this season. With those struggles, the Titans are looking for a change to spark their offense.

Brian Callahan emphasized that this decision is focused on the present season and not a reflection of Levis’ future in Tennessee. He expressed his belief in Levis, noting that the second-year quarterback has shown improvement throughout the season. “I still believe in Will. I still believe he can improve,” Callahan said. “For right now, this is the best decision for our football team.” Despite Levis being benched, Callahan reiterated that he’s not concerned about the long-term future of the young quarterback and that the focus remains on the immediate task at hand: winning games and finishing the season strong.

Levis was given every opportunity to succeed this season, with the coaching staff providing plenty of support to help him develop. However, as Callahan noted, despite the coaching and the improvements Levis has made in certain areas, the lack of consistency has been a key issue. The coaching staff hoped that Levis would be able to thrive in the system, but the turnovers have been a persistent problem, making it difficult for the team to gain any momentum.

As for Mason Rudolph, this marks his third start for the Titans this season. Rudolph, who took over for a struggling Kenny Pickett in Pittsburgh last December, has experience stepping in for an underperforming young quarterback. This season, Rudolph has seen mixed results: he started in blowout losses to Buffalo and Detroit, but also secured a win against New England. Most notably, in relief duty, Rudolph completed 80% of his passes for 209 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. This performance, along with his experience, has earned him the starting role as the Titans hope to find some stability at quarterback.

The Titans’ decision to bench Levis raises questions about the team’s plans for the quarterback position going forward. With Mason Rudolph on a one-year contract, Tennessee will likely be looking at both free-agent options and the draft to find their quarterback of the future. Currently, the Titans hold the No. 5 overall draft pick with three weeks remaining in the season, which gives them a prime position to select a potential franchise quarterback.

In conclusion, the Titans’ decision to bench Will Levis and start Mason Rudolph highlights the urgency the team feels in turning things around this season. While the future of the quarterback position in Tennessee remains uncertain, the team’s immediate focus is on securing a win against the Indianapolis Colts and finishing the season on a high note. Whether this move sparks a late-season rally or further complicates the team’s plans for 2025 remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Titans’ quarterback situation is far from settled.