Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis left Monday's game against the Miami Dolphins with a shoulder injury in the first quarter, but backup Mason Rudolph stepped in and guided the team to a 31-12 victory.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis left Monday's game against the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter with a shoulder injury, casting a shadow over the team's hard-fought victory.
Levis injured his right throwing shoulder while diving for a first down on Tennessee's second drive of the game. He was replaced by veteran backup Mason Rudolph, who completed 9-of-17 passes for 85 yards and led the Titans to a 31-12 win.
The Titans' medical staff listed Levis as questionable to return, but he never re-entered the game. The team announced after the game that Levis is suspected to have suffered an AC joint injury and will undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
Levis' departure marked a premature end to a shaky start for the second-year quarterback. He completed just three of four passes for 38 yards and threw an interception before exiting. The interception was Levis' sixth of the season, tying him with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson for the most in the NFL.
Coach Brian Callahan said the team will evaluate Levis' status after reviewing the MRI results. "If he can play, he'll go," Callahan stated.
Despite Rudolph's solid performance, Callahan reaffirmed his commitment to Levis as the team's starting quarterback. "He's a guy that has a lot of potential," Callahan said. "He has a lot of things that we like about him."
With Levis injured, Rudolph seized the opportunity to prove his worth. He orchestrated seven scoring drives on 11 possessions, including two touchdown passes to wide receiver Robert Woods.
The Titans' defense also played a key role in the victory. They held the Dolphins to just 12 points and forced four turnovers, including three interceptions.
The win was a much-needed boost for the Titans, who entered the game with a 0-3 record. It marked their first victory under first-year head coach Brian Callahan.
However, Levis' injury casts some doubt over the team's long-term prospects. The Titans will need their young quarterback to stay healthy and improve his play if they want to contend for a playoff berth.
