Will Levis' extra effort to get a first down led to his first-quarter exit on Monday night.
Levis didn't return to Tennessee’s first win of the season, a 31-12 victory over the Miami Dolphins, due to a shoulder injury.
Mason Rudolph took over at quarterback for Tennessee and managed the offense as well as it's been run all season, with the Titans turning in seven scoring drives, though Rudolph only threw for 85 yards on 9-of-17 passing.
After the game, Titans head coach Brian Callahan said Levis would undergo an MRI for what is believed to be an AC joint issue, and the coach added Levis was 100 percent his starting quarterback going forward. Tennessee has a bye in Week 5.
“Will hurt his shoulder on that scramble on third down," Callahan said. "Tried to come back. It was bothering him. Ended up doing what he had to do to try to get back in the game, and ultimately I knew what kind of game it was gonna be with the bye week next week. Didn’t want to expose him to any further risk. He tried everything he could to go, but it was bothering him pretty significantly on his shoulder, so made a decision to hold him out.”
Levis has turned the ball over in each game this season, including his abbreviated Monday night performance, but Callahan was adamant that he's not making a change.
"If Will is healthy, he’s our quarterback," Callahan said. "It was not a decision based on anything other than his health and protecting him, particularly with the bye week. The shoulder didn’t feel great. I didn’t want to put him back out there, and I knew I was gonna run the ball quite a bit, so that was really what factored in. But he’s our starter when he’s healthy and we’re ready to roll with him.”
In the second half, Rudolph quarterbacked his team to 20 points over the final two quarters (and the defense netted a safety), with the 31 points giving the Titans their highest total of the season.
Scrambling for the chains with just over six minutes to play in the opening quarter, Levis went airborne, diving headfirst and coming down on his right shoulder. He came up short on the third-down run and could be seen on the broadcast saying he thought he hurt his shoulder. On the Titans' ensuing offensive possession, Levis went to the blue medical tent, while Rudolph took over under center.
“We’ll do all the work on the precautionary stuff," Callahan said. "I don’t think it’s gonna be anything too serious other than just your normal AC-style injury, but we’ll see. I’ve been wrong before, so we’ll wait until the MRI and all that gets done. As of right now, I don’t think it’s a long-term issue for us.”
In his brief time on Monday, Levis completed 3 of 4 passes for 25 yards with an interception. It was Levis' sixth INT of the season, which is tied for the most in the NFL.
Levis was throwing the ball on the sideline before Rudolph entered the game. It was fair to wonder with how shaky Levis, who has nine giveaways this year, has been playing, coupled with his injury, if Callahan wouldn't decide to stick with Rudolph going forward, regardless of Levis’ status. However, the first-year head coach did his best to stymie that narrative.