NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Coach Brian Callahan has decided to keep Mason Rudolph as the starting quarterback for the Tennessee Titans for another game, hoping the team can build on the success he has shown in their most high-scoring matches this season.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Callahan expressed his belief that Rudolph has earned the opportunity to lead once again, even after the Titans’ recent 38-30 defeat against the Indianapolis Colts. “The interception he threw was probably his only significantly poor performance,” Callahan remarked. “Overall, he executed well and handled the drop-back passing game effectively. He demonstrated resilience by working his way back into the game, which was encouraging. We’ll allow him to have another shot at it.”
So far this season, Rudolph has participated in six games and holds a record of 2-4. He stepped in for an injured Will Levis on September 30, contributing to a 31-12 victory over the Miami Dolphins. He also attempted to lead the Titans in a challenging 37-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals before being named the starter for the previous week.
In the game, Rudolph completed 23 of 34 passes for 252 yards, throwing two touchdown passes but also accumulating three interceptions. One of those interceptions was a deflection off running back Tony Pollard’s hands, and the last interception occurred on the final play of the game as Rudolph attempted to orchestrate a comeback from a 38-7 deficit in the last 18 minutes.
A notable factor supporting Rudolph’s continued starting role is his ability to evade sacks—far surpassing Levis, who was the second overall pick in the 2023 draft. Rudolph’s statistics are similar to Levis’, with Rudolph boasting eight touchdown passes and eight interceptions, completing 63.8% of his throws and holding a passer rating of 78.8. Conversely, Levis has completed 63.7% of his passes but has thrown 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while facing 40 sacks, compared to just seven sacks allowed against Rudolph.
“His skill in avoiding negative plays, such as sacks, is crucial,” noted Callahan regarding Rudolph. “He efficiently gets the ball out and makes quick decisions about where to throw.”
Rudolph will have another chance to showcase his abilities this Sunday when the Titans (3-12) head to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars (3-12). The team hopes he can achieve better offensive results than Levis’s six points against the Jaguars during their last matchup, a 10-6 loss on December 8 in Nashville.
Acknowledging his previous mistakes, Rudolph stated, “I understand that I’ve put the Titans defense in a tough position with turnovers. I’m eager to show that I can manage the ball more effectively and help the team put points on the board.”
In preparation for the holiday, the Titans conducted a walk-through on Tuesday, after which Callahan has given the team Wednesday off for Christmas. An injury report will be available on Wednesday, and Callahan anticipates it will feature multiple players. Notably, right guard Dillon Radunz, who exited last week’s game due to injury, will be included in that report.
Lineman Jaelyn Duncan, who sustained a significant hamstring injury during his first NFL start at right tackle on October 20, is expected to be available, and Callahan expressed excitement about Duncan’s prospects on the field.
