Both the Colts and Titans picked up their first wins behind backup quarterbacks in Week 4. While Joe Flacco accomplished more through the air than Mason Rudolph, the latter helped Tennessee to a 31-12 win after Will Levis had struggled.
Through four games, Levis and Anthony Richardson are tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions apiece. The Colts are not considering benching their dynamic second-year QB to boost his development. Despite Monday night’s lopsided win coming on Rudolph’s watch, Brian Callahan said the Titans will turn back to Levis — assuming tests on his injured shoulder check out — following Tennessee’s bye week.
“Will’s healthy, he’s our quarterback,” Callahan said (via ESPN.com’s Turron Davenport) after the game. “He’s our starter when he’s healthy and we’re ready to roll with him. … I don’t think [Levis’ injury] is going to be anything too serious other than just your normal AC style injury. As of right now, I don’t think it’s a long-term issue for us.”
Diving for a first down, which officials deemed a failed effort that led to a Titans punt, led Levis out of action. The 2023 second-round pick experienced pain while trying to throw on the sideline, though he remained in uniform while Rudolph took over the offense. Tennessee’s run game powered the team to a win over a Dolphins team suddenly dealing with a bigger QB crisis. Rudoph finished just 9 of 17 for 85 yards.
Rudolph began the past two seasons as the Steelers’ No. 3 quarterback, moving down the depth chart after years as Ben Roethlisberger‘s backup. The Steelers’ plans changed as Mitch Trubisky struggled replacing an injured Kenny Pickett last season, and even as the underwhelming 2022 first-round pick returned to full strength, Rudolph stayed in Pittsburgh’s starting lineup into the playoffs.
This did not garner him too much interest on this year’s backup market, as the Steelers revamped their quarterback room. The Titans awaited with a one-year, $2.87MM offer. This was not especially close to the top QB2 salary offered this spring, and Rudolph did not compete for Tennessee’s starting job. Levis’ concerning early-season performance does create early questions about his viability as the franchise’s long-term option, especially with Callahan not in place when the Titans drafted the former Kentucky standout. Rudolph does not profile as such an answer, either, but Levis’ injury opens the door to Callahan needing to make a decision.
The Titans had not eclipsed 30 points since Week 17 of the 2021 season, as that squad moved to the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Levis had also made two of the worst decisions any QB has all season, with turnovers — second of which drawing Callahan’s ire — costing the Titans against the Bears and Packers in Weeks 1 and 2. But GM Ran Carthon made several offseason moves designed to support his QB investment. For now, the 1-3 Titans are sticking with that plan.
Rudolph and Huntley each under 100 yards passing last night. Awful QB play.
PFR can’t do fact-checking? Those turnovers by Levis were a pick-6 at Chicago in Week 1 and a pick-6 at home vs. Green Bay in Week 3.
It doesn’t appear that Levis is the future for the Titans. No, Rudolf didn’t pass for a lot of yards, but he didn’t make any of the dumb mistakes that Levis has made this season. It’s a tough call for Callahan, but Rudolf is not going to cost them games from a lot of stupid mistakes. Levis will continue to do just that.