Titans coach Brian Callahan has been part of coaching teams that were starting fresh with a new NFL franchise, and he understands how tough that can be.
Now he is facing similar challenges as he looks for a right tackle and evaluates a second-year quarterback in a new system.
With a record of 1-5, the Titans are having their worst start since 2015 when Ken Whisenhunt was fired after a 1-6 beginning to his second season. Tennessee will play against Detroit (5-2) on Sunday, and the Titans are already 11.5-point underdogs according to BetMGM.
“Having gone through those experiences gives me the hope that, one, I can handle it, and, two, I’ve seen it before,” Callahan said Monday. “So I have at least some roadmap to what that might look like and how to get out of it.
But there are challenges that come at the start of every program, and we’ve not done a good enough job of managing some of those all the way around. We need to find a way to do better.”
The Titans are also focused on figuring out what they have in Will Levis. General manager Ran Carthon traded up to the 33rd pick to draft Levis from Kentucky in his first draft with Tennessee in 2023.
Levis has a record of 4-10 as a starter and is credited with the Titans’ only win this season in Miami, where backup Mason Rudolph played the last three quarters. Callahan mentioned that owner Amy Adams Strunk understands the plan to assess Levis throughout the season.
Levis missed Tennessee’s 34-10 loss to Buffalo due to a sprained right AC joint in his throwing shoulder, which he played through in a loss to Indianapolis that left the Titans winless at home with a record of 0-3. Fans eager to see Rudolph witnessed him get intercepted once and lose one of three fumbles.
“We’re not in a great spot record-wise, and the injury doesn’t help,” Callahan said. “The minute he’s back healthy, the intent is for him to continue to play, and hopefully that’s sooner rather than later.”
