The Tennessee Titans haven’t played a preseason game yet, but they already know, barring injury, Cam Ward will begin his rookie season as the starting quarterback.
After that, it sounds like nothing is written in stone.
Head coach Brian Callahan removed any doubt about whether the No. 1 overall pick would play right away when he quickly named the Miami product QB1. Presumably, Will Levis, if he didn’t challenge for the top spot, would have slid into the backup role. That obviously won’t be the case, though, with the 2023 second-round pick out for the season with a shoulder injury.
Right now, the Titans also have veterans Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle on the depth chart at quarterback. Neither will jeopardize Ward’s status as the starter unless the top pick faces historic struggles. He won’t be looking over his shoulder anytime soon.
Titans’ QB2 Job Likely Brandon Allen’s to Lose
So, that is good. But it sure helps to have someone looking over Ward and helping in hisf development. ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler noted that while Allen has played well in his presumed understudy role as QB2, Tennessee’s quarterback room might not be a finished product yet.
“While the Titans have been pleased with Brandon Allen’s presence as the primary backup quarterback,” Fowler wrote, “they will monitor free agency or potential trades for veterans over the next month. Allen looked capable of handling QB2 duties from what I saw. He has been productive in camp.”
Allen does fit the backup bill as a non-threatening journeyman. He’s had three stops in his short five-year NFL career, spending his rookie campaign in Denver before going to Cincinnati for a few years. The Arkansas product then landed in San Francisco where he didn’t see the field as the third-string QB in 2023 behind Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold. Once Darnold left for Minnesota, though, Allen slotted into the backup role for 2024.
He made his first start since 2021 in Week 12 against Green Bay with an injured Purdy down for the week, and he completed 17 of 29 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown and an interception in a 28-point road loss to the Packers. Outside of that start, he took just five snaps for the Niners in 2024.
One other thing Allen has going for him is familiarity with Callahan from their time together in Cincinnati where Allen backed up Joe Burrow under Callahan, then the offensive coordinator.
Do Titans Need Mentor for Cam Ward?
All that seemingly does point to Allen being the best available option. But the Titans should be on the lookout for potential upgrades. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’d be looking for a quarterback who’s more skilled than Allen, but there are countless examples of pairing a young quarterback and experienced veteran to let the latter mentor the former.
Looking at the list of available QBs, there aren’t a lot of great options. Carson Wentz is certainly the biggest name still unsigned. Someone like Teddy Bridgewater might have made sense, too, but he just signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Titans should have a better idea — and better selection of possible options — by the end of the month. As teams start to cut down their rosters, more players should come available, if Tennessee ultimately decides Allen isn’t up for the job.
