Titans’ Will Levis Benched vs. Bengals After Pick-6; Mason Rudolph Enters at QB

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Will Levis struggled with turnovers once again on Sunday.

The Tennessee Titans quarterback threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals before he was subsequently replaced by backup Mason Rudolph.

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Titans QB Mason Rudolph has replaced Will Levis.

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Mason Rudolph is now in QB for the Titans, replacing Will Levis, who threw a pick-6 on the previous drive. <a href=”https://t.co/MB4bRjGipf”>pic.twitter.com/MB4bRjGipf</a>

Levis lost a fumble and was picked off three times, helping the Bengals build a 31-14 lead over the Titans until he was eventually sidelined.

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BENGALS PICK 6!!!!<br><br>📺: FOX <a href=”https://t.co/jNy5DclVVw”>pic.twitter.com/jNy5DclVVw</a>

It was a discouraging performance from the 25-year-old, who didn’t commit a turnover in his previous two starts.

Levis finished 8-of-12 for 89 yards and zero touchdowns to go along with the trio of interceptions against Cincinnati.

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ooooo <a href=”https://twitter.com/MikeHilton_28?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@MikeHilton_28</a> wanted it<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/CINvsTEN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#CINvsTEN</a> on FOX <a href=”https://t.co/lWfbRjFuOa”>pic.twitter.com/lWfbRjFuOa</a>

Inconsistency has defined the quarterback’s first two years of his career, as he’s shown the arm talent that made him a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft while also routinely struggling to protect the ball.

In 10 starts this season entering Sunday’s action, Levis completed 63.6 percent of his throws for 1,827 yards and 12 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions. He also fumbled the ball seven times, losing four of them.

Levis’ turnover issues were apparent to begin the year, tossing seven interceptions in his first five starts. Titans head coach Brian Callahan expressed his disappointment with the signal-caller’s decision-making after a fumble against the New York Jets in Week 2.

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Levis flips it backwards and its a Jets fumble recovery!<br><br>📺: <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYJvsTEN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#NYJvsTEN</a> on CBS/Paramount+<br>📱: <a href=”https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG”>https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG</a> <a href=”https://t.co/nZ38jEOfOo”>pic.twitter.com/nZ38jEOfOo</a>

“He’s a grown-up, and he knows better,” Callahan said on Sept. 15, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “So I was really irritated that he cost us three points in a game that we probably needed it.”

Rudolph already has experience leading Tennessee’s first-string offense, starting three games from Week 7 through Week 9 while Levis dealt with an AC joint sprain of his shoulder.

Over that span, Rudolph completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 721 yards and four touchdowns to go along with four interceptions. The Titans finished with a 1-2 record.

Following Levis’ benching, Tennessee’s starter for a Week 16 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts remains to be seen.

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