It’s always good to have a trusty backup QB in the NFL. The Titans proved they had one when Mason Rudolph stepped in against the Miami Dolphins. The night began with Will Levis taking the field, hoping to bounce back after a rough first stretch of the season. But a hard dive for a first down ended with Levis nursing a shoulder injury and watching from the sidelines. In came Rudolph, and what followed was a performance that has Titans fans talking—and not just because of the win.
Rudolph took control of an offense that had struggled to find consistency all season. Let’s be clear: his stat line—9-of-17 for 85 yards—won’t be making any highlight reels. But when the Titans needed steady hands and a leader on the field, Rudolph delivered. Under his command, Tennessee scored on seven of their 11 drives, methodically wearing down Miami’s defense. Running back Tony Pollard helped carry the load with 88 rushing yards, but the storyline was all about Rudolph’s ability to operate this offense.
For a fanbase that has weathered its fair share of quarterback controversies and disappointments, the natural question now is: Should Mason Rudolph be more than just the fill-in guy? Will Levis, with all his physical potential, has been mistake-prone this season, leading the league in interceptions alongside rookie struggles like lost fumbles. He has the stronger arm and flashes of brilliance, but how many more games can the Titans afford to drop while waiting for him to grow into the role?
Rudolph, on the other hand, might not have the same ceiling, but he’s proven he can manage a game effectively. He won’t light up the scoreboard, but he also won’t throw games away with erratic decision-making. In a division that looks like it will come down to who can minimize mistakes and eke out gritty wins, maybe a more conservative, game-managing approach is what the Titans need right now.
Head coach Brian Callahan has already hinted that if Levis is healthy, he’ll get the start, but it’s not as simple as plugging Levis back in and hoping for the best. This win against Miami might have been just one game, but it has Titans fans asking a tough question: Is it time to ride the hot hand in Rudolph and give him a shot to stabilize the offense for the rest of the season? It’s a dilemma that the Titans fans faced not too long ago with Ryan Tannehill—a backup quarterback outperforming the supposed future of the franchise. And for a team that finally saw a spark of hope after a dismal start, it’s a decision that could shape the trajectory of their entire season.
For now, fans are left to debate whether the steady play of Rudolph might be what the Titans need more than Levis’ potential upside. The win against Miami was crucial, but whether it marks a turning point or just another plot twist in the Titans’ turbulent quarterback saga remains to be seen. And as we head into the next matchup, it’s clear that Tennessee’s season, and perhaps even its long-term quarterback plans, are still very much up in the air.