After a disappointing 3-13 season in Brian Callahan's first campaign as head coach of the Tennessee Titans, the team opted for familiarity at the game's most important position. With the number one pick of the draft in tow, the Titans allowed former backup quarterback Mason Rudolph to leave during free agency and replaced him with Brandon Allen to compete for the backup position.
Allen and Callahan spent three seasons together with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2019-2022, during which Allen received 11 of his 18 career starts with Callahan as the offensive coordinator. For a coach fighting for his job, a move of that caliber made sense as Will Levis proved to be unreliable last season, and then-potential number one pick, Cam Ward, would be a rookie under center.
The Titans added veteran journeyman Tim Boyle to the roster, but their problem wasn't fixed with that addition. Levis was widely assumed to win the backup quarterback position behind Ward, but season-ending shoulder surgery ended that opportunity. The Titans' carousel at the quarterback position is proving more costly by the day.
The Titans are in trouble behind Cam Ward
Allen and Boyle had made the Titans one of the least desirable quarterback rooms in the NFL, but their performances in their first preseason game took the cake. In two and a half quarters, they combined for 86 yards and three interceptions on 10-25 passing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Boyle performing the worst.
By contrast, Ward passed for 67 yards on one drive, which led to the Titans' only score of the night in their 29-7 loss. It was glaring how far the Titans fell when they switched quarterbacks, leading to the waiving of Boyle and the signing of Trevor Siemian for his third stint with the team since 2020.
Siemian provides a slight upgrade as he brings starting-level experience and another quarterback with familiarity for Callahan's system after spending time with the Titans last season. However, it showed just how bad the backup quarterback market is for the Titans, and how important it will be for them to keep Ward healthy for the duration of his rookie campaign.
With low expectations, the backup quarterback position might not seem like a big deal for the team, but having serviceable backups helps the development of their young wide receivers. Their recent move proved that the Titans miscalculated the importance of their backup quarterback position, and it may be costly to the team as they prepare to improve upon the worst record in the NFL.
