Cam Ward’s rough night raises red fags for Titans after offseason hype

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward’s first live action of the preseason was hardly the performance he envisioned.

Ward struggled Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers, completing just 5 of 12 passes for 57 yards during three offensive possessions. Facing primarily San Francisco backups, the second-year quarterback was inconsistent with his accuracy and never appeared to find a sustained rhythm.

Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, missed several open receivers, particularly on slants and throws over the middle. His timing and footwork appeared uneven, and attempts to extend plays outside the pocket nearly resulted in turnovers.

For a Titans team that spent the offseason building its offense around Ward, the uneven showing immediately raised questions. Tennessee brought in veteran offensive coordinator Brian Daboll with hopes of helping Ward take a significant step forward after an up-and-down rookie season.

Titans coach Robert Saleh, however, isn’t sounding the alarm after one preseason appearance.

“The good news is going back and digging in on the film, every pass play that [Daboll] called yesterday we’ve run in practice,” Saleh said Friday. “You guys have been there and you guys have seen flashes of Cam and the entire offense operating at a very high level. It’s as simple as just time on task.”

Ward falls flat against 49ers backups as Titans get early reality check

Saleh said Ward has routinely made the throws in practice that he missed Thursday, making continued repetition and attention to fundamentals the priority moving forward.

“Every single one of those plays he’s executed flawlessly in practice,” Saleh said. “He’s got to be able to have the confidence in not only himself but his teammates to execute, get your feet down, play with great technique and deliver the football just like he has.”

The Titans knew when they drafted Ward that his combination of arm talent and playmaking ability came with moments of inconsistency. Thursday offered a reminder that his development remains a process.

“We’re going to continue to harp on the technique, all the fundamentals, continue to rep things at a high level,” Saleh said. “It’s just reps.”

For Tennessee, the preseason opener was ugly. But with Week 1 still ahead, the Titans believe there is plenty of time for Ward to turn those practice flashes into game-day production.

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