Ex-Steelers QB Mason Rudolph Wins Titans Backup Job, Malik Willis Traded

The Tennessee Titans have traded quarterback Malik Willis to the Green Bay Packers, clearing the way for former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph to win the backup job.

Rudolph, who signed with the Titans this offseason after spending his first six NFL seasons with the Steelers, had been in a training camp battle with Wills to be the backup to Tennessee starter Will Levis.

Willis was the Titans’ third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He was the third quarterback taken in that draft class, after the Steelers landed Kenny Pickett late in the first round and Desmond Ridder went to the Atlanta Falcons earlier that round.

Liberty quarterback Malik Willis against Louisiana-Monroe at Malone Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. — Liberty Athletics

Willis had been the No. 14 overall player in the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board, but instead nearly fell all the way out of the second day of the draft. In his rookie season, Willis played sparingly, even though Ryan Tannehill suffered an injury. 

Last season, the Titans turned around and drafted Levis out of Kentucky in the second round, one year after using a high pick on Willis. Willis won a battle with Levis to the backup coming out of the preseason, but it was Levis that started after Tannehill was injured again.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis waits for the snap against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 2, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

This year, the Titans brought in Rudolph to provide competition at backup quarterback. In three preseason games, Rudolph completed 31 of 49 for 365 yards and one touchdown. Willis was 20 of 27 for 205 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and also ran 11 times for 101 yards.

In Green Bay, Willis will back up Jordan Love, supplanting Penn State alum Sean Clifford and seventh-round rookie Michael Pratt for that role.

Rudolph was the Steelers’ third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He made eight starts while Ben Roethlisberger was injured in 2019, and then returned to a backup role until the end of last season. When Kenny Pickett was injured and Mitch Trubisky struggled, the Steelers turned to Rudolph, who led them to three straight regular-season wins before falling to the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs. 

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