Titans continue baffling cycle of ex-Jets QB failures after Tim Boyle disaster

The ghosts of the New York Jets’ quarterback past are alive and well in Nashville. Days after Tim Boyle’s brutal Tennessee Titans preseason debut, the team cut bait and spun the carousel again, swapping him out for another ex-Jets QB in Trevor Siemian.

Jets fans have seen this movie enough times to mouth the lines. In fact, it was Siemian who took over for Boyle after the journeyman quarterback was benched after less than two full starts with the Jets in 2023.

Now, nearly two years later, Siemian has once again replaced Boyle, this time as Tennessee's third-string quarterback. Boyle entered the summer competing with veteran Brandon Allen for the Titans' backup quarterback job following a season-ending injury to Will Levis.

He had a real shot to win the battle, too, especially given that Allen has started just one NFL game over the last three years. But Boyle struggled mightily in his Titans debut, completing just 4-of-13 passes for 24 yards with two interceptions, finishing with an abysmal 0.6 passer rating in a 29-7 loss.

That game apparently sealed his fate, as the longtime Aaron Rodgers backup will now be hoping to latch on with a ninth (!) different team.

Titans contine to cycle through ex-Jets quarterback failures

Jets fans should know both Boyle and Siemian very well. The Jets originally signed Boyle to compete with Zach Wilson for the backup quarterback job in what was supposed to be Aaron Rodgers' first season as the starter.

Boyle was close friends with both Rodgers and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and "knew the system," so despite no other job qualifications to speak of, the Jets brought him in to battle Wilson.

Of course, Rodgers tore his Achilles just four plays into the 2023 season, forcing Wilson back into the starting lineup. Boyle would eventually replace Wilson as the starter, making his first appearance in a disastrous 34-13 Black Friday loss to the Miami Dolphins.

The Jets would trot Boyle out as the starter just one more time the following week, but he'd find himself benched in the fourth quarter in favor of Siemian. Siemian wouldn't fare much better in his time as the starting quarterback.

The ex-Broncos QB would start three games for the Jets that season, throwing two touchdowns, four interceptions, and averaging a putrid 4.7 yards per attempt, although his team would go 2-1 in those starts.

Siemian was actually signed to the Titans' practice squad last October, although he never appeared in a game. Now, he rejoins Tennessee's quarterback room and will compete with Allen to back up No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward.

The Titans can keep raiding the Jets quarterback graveyard all they want, but Jets fans know how this story ends. Someone get Brett Rypien on speed dial — stat.

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