Amid a loaded slate of NFL action, the No. 1 overall pick will make his debut. Cam Ward will get the start for the Tennessee Titans in their preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler discussed the franchise’s expectations. Ward has made a strong impression since arriving in Tennessee this offseason. […]
Amid a loaded slate of NFL action, the No. 1 overall pick will make his debut. Cam Ward will get the start for the Tennessee Titans in their preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler discussed the franchise’s expectations.
Ward has made a strong impression since arriving in Tennessee this offseason. He’s coming off a standout season at Miami, where he became a Heisman Trophy finalist as part of his journey from unranked recruit to top pick.
Fowler said the Titans threw Ward straight into the fire and he responded well. The goal for Saturday is so simply run the offense cleanly, though Fowler pointed out the skillset that could make the rookie jump off the page.
“They have put a lot on him in practice – third-down run, lot of disguised blitzes,” Fowler said Saturday morning on SportsCenter. “He’s handled it well. He’s had some off days, but he always responds with a strong day. They want to see that today, come out firing. They just want to see a clean operation.
“He’s a hard worker. He processes information fast. They feel like he’s ready for this moment. He is great out of the pocket. I saw it first-hand, when he scrambles left to right and throws on the run, he’s got a chance to be special in that area. He can show that today.”
What Cam Ward brings to the Titans
Ward came in as the projected starter on the Titans’ first unofficial depth chart released earlier this week. That decision came after the franchise announced Will Levis would miss the 2025 season due to shoulder surgery. That opened the door for Ward to take over as the presumed QB1, and he’ll get his first chance to showcase his skillset Saturday against the Buccaneers.
Cam Ward began his college career at Incarnate Word before spending two seasons at Washington State, where he put up impressive numbers. He initially declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, but ultimately chose to return to college and transfer to Miami in 2025.
That decision paid off in a big way. Ward threw for 4,313 yards and led the nation with 39 passing touchdowns at Miami while also showing off his ability to extend the play and make throws on the run. That skillset helped make him the No. 1 overall pick this year, and he’ll make his NFL preseason debut Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Category: Football
