Music City Miracles
The Tennessee Titans lost their first preseason game 29-7 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There’s more reason for optimism than the score suggests. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward and the first-team offense strung together a 65-yard touchdown drive before exiting.
A big reason why the Titans suffered a blowout defeat was the play of backup quarterbacks Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle. Allen entered the contest after Ward and went 6-of-12 for 62 yards and an interception. His turnover occurred on a tipped ball. He wasn’t terrible, but he performed below the standard of a backup QB.
Boyle replaced Allen and was downright atrocious. The former UConn and Eastern Kentucky signal-caller completed 4-of-13 passes for 24 yards and two interceptions, including a late pick-six. It’s incredible to think Boyle is somehow entering his eighth professional season in the NFL.
The Titans released Boyle and signed Trevor Siemian on Monday. Siemian, who’s now on his third stint in Nashville, is undeniably better than Boyle. It’s unclear if the Titans will carry two or three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Will Levis is on season-ending IR with a shoulder injury. Allen is currently Ward’s backup, and we don’t envision Siemian winning that job.
Allen was brought in because he knows Brian Callahan’s offense. He previously played under Callahan for the Cincinnati Bengals. His knowledge of the offense has been valuable as Ward continues acclimating to the NFL.
But it would be a disaster if the Titans actually need Allen or Siemian to play this season. The rebuilding Titans are all-in on Ward’s development. If Ward got injured, it’s fair to debate whether they should even bother truly trying to compete in his absence.
If the Titans are looking to acquire a backup quarterback, there are usually some available around cut-down day for trade (The Titans traded Malik Willis around the same time last year). Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell could be one worth monitoring. He’s losing the QB2 battle in Vegas and was drafted by current Tennessee assistant GM Dave Ziegler.
Other potential targets could include Tyson Bagent, Stetson Bennett, and Will Grier. Should the Titans bother trying to upgrade the backup QB spot, or should Ward be the only signal-caller who matters in Tennessee this season? It’s a fair question.
